Improving Work Ability of Young Adults With Stroke

Improving Work Ability of Young Adults With Stroke Through Personal Resource Building and Inclusive Volunteering: A Randomised Controlled Trial

This project will investigate effects of a novel theory-driven 6-week virtual Personal Resource Building and Inclusive Volunteering Intervention (PVI) on young stroke survivors' work ability, self-efficacy and psychosocial outcomes.

It is hypothesised that participants in the intervention group, compared with the control group, will demonstrate the outcomes below at immediately and 3 months post-intervention with respect to baseline: 1) Significant improvement in work ability (primary outcome), 2) Significant improvements in self-efficacy, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), emotional well-being and social skills (secondary outcomes).

Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to receive usual care or PVI with usual care and the control group participants will receive usual stroke care services.

Returning to work is a major rehabilitation priority for young stroke survivors. This project will investigate effects of a novel theory-driven 6-week virtual Personal Resource Building and Inclusive Volunteering Intervention (PVI) on young stroke survivors' work ability, self-efficacy and psychosocial outcomes. A 2-arm, assessor-blind, randomised controlled trial will be conducted. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to receive usual care or PVI with usual care and the control group participants will receive usual stroke care services. Outcomes including work ability, self-efficacy, health-related quality of life, emotional well-being and social skills will be measured at baseline, immediately post-PVI and 3 months post-PVI.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18-64 years old,
• been clinically diagnosed with a first-ever or recurrent ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke,
• living at home,
• Montreal Cognitive Assessment score >2nd percentile,
• a Modified Rankin Scale of 4 or below (moderately severe disability),
• able to communicate in Cantonese and read Traditional Chinese,
• a regular paid employment at the time of stroke,
• been unemployed for at least 3 months at the time of recruitment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• have been diagnosed with transient ischaemic attack,
• have experienced cerebrovascular events due to tumours,
• have been diagnosed with a mental condition such as depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder,
• demonstrate incomprehensible speech or difficulty in comprehending conversations, or
• have or are receiving vocational programmes.