Grant: Doctoral: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Stroke is a disabling condition that can cause problems with movement, speech, thinking and emotions. Approximately 300,000 Canadians live with the effects of stroke. Stroke survivors define recovery as return to a life that includes personally valued activities carried out within their various roles (e.g., spouse, grandparent, worker, volunteer). The variety and degree of problems experienced by individuals following stroke make this recovery challenging. Effective treatments are needed to enhance the knowledge, skills and confidence stroke survivors need to return to their important and valued activities. In this research project, I will adapt Occupational Performance Coaching, an innovative intervention designed for families of children with challenges in their everyday activities, for use with stroke survivors. Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) shares similarities with proven approaches for self-management of chronic diseases including Chronic Disease Self-Management and health coaching. I will develop an OPC approach for stroke rehabilitation based on input from stroke survivors and health professionals who treat clients with stroke. I will then try this approach with 12 stroke survivors. I will compare the ability of this group to return to their personally valued activities 2 weeks, 3 months and 9 months after discharge with that of a similar group of 12 stroke survivors who do not receive OPC. As well, I will also do in-depth interviews with those who received the treatment to get their feedback on the helpful and less helpful aspects of OPC.