Exploring the natural history of chronic disease self-management and health resource utilization after stroke

The ability to effectively self-manage may empower people with stroke to optimize their recovery, health and wellbeing, and in doing so reduce healthcare costs. However, little is known about how people with stroke self-manage their recovery after hospital discharge, as well as how sociodemographic factors such as biological sex, age, stroke severity, and number of comorbidities impact how stroke survivors self-manage different areas of their lives. Therefore, this one-year longitudinal study aims to explore changes in self-management abilities among people with stroke after they have been discharged from hospital. We will also observe changes in health behaviours, emotions and life roles over the course of one year. Finally, we will also explore the association between self-management abilities, health resource use and costs over time. We hope to inform the development of targeted self-management interventions that consider the optimal timing after stroke to deliver such programs, and that allocate resources effectively for people with stroke that would optimally benefit from self-management support. This research will be presented at scientific conferences and will engage a patient partner in the translation of study findings.