Strategy Training and Pets to Promote Stroke Survivor's Cognitive Performance and Community Participation

Strategy Training and Pets to Promote Stroke Survivor's Cognitive Performance and Community Participation

The study will administer an intervention called strategy training to adult stroke survivors living in the community who do and do not have pets, and will examine the role of a pet in promoting cognitive performance and community participation outcomes.

Stroke survivors with pets

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Primary diagnosis of acute stroke
2. At least 3 months after the stroke onset
3. Living in a community residence with a pet
4. Cognitive impairment as indicated by an Executive Interview score of 3 or higher
5. Participation restrictions as indicated by an Activity Card Sort (<80% of pre-stroke activities)
6. Willing to participate in a 6-week program with 2 intervention sessions per week at home

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Dementia as indicated by Montreal Cognitive Assessment score of 18 or lower
2. Severe aphasia as indicated by the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination Severity Score of 0 or 1
3. Self-report of a central nervous system disorder other than stroke
4. Recent drug or alcohol addiction/abuse within 3 months prior to the Mini-Neuropsychiatric Interview
5. Severe mental illness as indicated by the PRIME-MD
6. Prior exposure to strategy training
7. Currently participate in rehabilitation therapy programs

Stroke survivors without pets

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Primary diagnosis of acute stroke
2. At least 3 months after the stroke onset
3. Living in a community residence
4. Cognitive impairment as indicated by an Executive Interview score of 3 or higher
5. Participation restrictions as indicated by an Activity Card Sort (<80% of pre-stroke activities)
6. Willing to participate in a 6-week program with 2 intervention sessions per week at home

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Dementia as indicated by Montreal Cognitive Assessment score of 18 or lower
2. Severe aphasia as indicated by the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination Severity Score of 0 or 1
3. Self-report of a central nervous system disorder other than stroke
4. Recent drug or alcohol addiction/abuse within 3 months prior to the Mini-Neuropsychiatric Interview
5. Severe mental illness as indicated by the PRIME-MD
6. Prior exposure to strategy training
7. Currently participate in rehabilitation therapy programs