Grant: Operating Grant

BACKGROUND: The lifetime risk of stroke is 1 in 5 for women and 1 in 6 for men over age 55. The vast majority of individuals with stroke are not engaging in healthy lifestyles and are at high risk for serious psychosocial and physical complications. As a result, the majority of stroke survivors are physically inactive; 30% have depression; 13% fall and fracture; and 30% go on to have another stroke due to poor cardiovascular health (diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity). PURPOSE: This study will be the first study to determine the effects of a comprehensive telehealth program on changing lifestyle behaviour for community-dwelling individuals with stroke. This program will offer specific knowledge and choices that consider the needs of the stroke survivor, and their family/caregiver. METHODS: Community-dwelling individuals with stroke will be randomly assigned to the Healthy Lifestyle Telehealth Program or control group. Individuals in the Healthy Lifestyle Telehealth group will participate in a 6 month tailored educational and behavioral counseling program for lifestyle modification delivered by telephone. Self-monitoring will be facilitated with a kit containing simple monitoring resources. We will determine whether the Healthy Lifestyle Telehealth Program will improve lifestyle behaviours such as physical activity, dietary habits, and medication adherence, as well as cardiovascular health outcomes, quality of life and health care costs. SIGNIFICANCE: The actual delivery cost of this service is relatively low and the telehealth approach would allow the program to reach a large number of Canadians living with stroke in both urban and rural regions. This comprehensive stroke-specific telehealth program has the potential to improve health behaviours of people living with stroke, reduce the risks of psychosocial and physical complications that frequently occur after stroke, and improve the quality of life after stroke.