BACKGROUND: One in three patients experience depression after stroke. An effective strategy to prevent depression after stroke that could be economically delivered to most patients with a low likelihood of adverse events is needed. METHODS: In a randomized trial conducted in New South Wales, Australia, a postcard was sent monthly to participants (n = 100) for five-months following hospital discharge after stroke (plus usual care) and compared with usual care (n = 101). Ethical approval was obtained to withhold information about the intervention and primary outcome from participants during the consent process. RESULTS: No significant difference was seen in the proportion of participants with depression in the intervention group (1/88) vs. the control group (3/76) (relative risk 0.29, 95% confidence interval 0.03-2.71) at six-months. No significant differences were seen on Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) depression and anxiety sub-scale scores, quality of life, or activities of daily living; however, many (47/100) responded positively to the postcards. CONCLUSIONS: Although this simple postcard intervention did not significantly reduce the proportion of participants experiencing high HADS depression sub-scale scores after stroke, it may be an effective way to engage with people after stroke following hospital discharge.
AD - The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. AN - 23075258 BT - International Journal of Stroke DP - NLM ET - 2012 October 18 LA - Eng N1 - Hackett, Maree LCarter, GregCrimmins, DenisClarke, TracyArblaster, LucyBillot, LaurentMysore, JayanthiSturm, JonathanInt J Stroke. 2012 Oct 18. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-4949.2012.00913.x. N2 -BACKGROUND: One in three patients experience depression after stroke. An effective strategy to prevent depression after stroke that could be economically delivered to most patients with a low likelihood of adverse events is needed. METHODS: In a randomized trial conducted in New South Wales, Australia, a postcard was sent monthly to participants (n = 100) for five-months following hospital discharge after stroke (plus usual care) and compared with usual care (n = 101). Ethical approval was obtained to withhold information about the intervention and primary outcome from participants during the consent process. RESULTS: No significant difference was seen in the proportion of participants with depression in the intervention group (1/88) vs. the control group (3/76) (relative risk 0.29, 95% confidence interval 0.03-2.71) at six-months. No significant differences were seen on Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) depression and anxiety sub-scale scores, quality of life, or activities of daily living; however, many (47/100) responded positively to the postcards. CONCLUSIONS: Although this simple postcard intervention did not significantly reduce the proportion of participants experiencing high HADS depression sub-scale scores after stroke, it may be an effective way to engage with people after stroke following hospital discharge.
PY - 2012 SN - 1747-4949 (Electronic)1747-4930 (Linking) T2 - International Journal of Stroke TI - ImProving Outcomes after STroke (POST): results from the randomized clinical pilot trial ER -