TeleRehab for Stroke Patients Using Mobile Technology

NCT02615132 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: 20150784-01H
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Post-stroke communication deficits (PSCD) are a common symptom of patients having sustained a stroke. These deficits include difficulty to produce or understand language, motor speech disorders and cognitive-communication disorders. It is estimated that approximately 40% of stroke survivors will have communication disorders post stroke. In this randomized controlled study, the investigators' objective is to test the value of providing a mobile platform-based Speech Language Therapy (SLT) program to patients discharged from an acute care hospital with stroke and PSCD and awaiting outpatient rehab services versus standard of care treatment. The investigators will offer iPad-based SLT/standard of treatment to a convenience sample of 20 patients with post-stroke communication deficits. The primary outcome will be feasibility (recruitment rate, adherence rate, retention rate, and protocol deviations), and the secondary outcome will be improvement in PSCD.

Conditions

Stroke

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Recruitment

  The investigators will assess the primary outcome of recruitment by determining: Total number of patients enrolled. This is the numerical total of all patients enrolled in the study

  13 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Retention Rate

  8 week follow up

• Adherence Rate

  8 week follow up

• Percentage of Patients Being Engaged in Study

  8 week follow up

Other Outcomes (1)

• Exploratory Outcome (Potential Improvement)

  8 week follow up

Study Arms (2)

Treatment Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The study SLP will instruct the patient to use the ipad apps as intervention for at least one-hour per day, until they are admitted to outpatient SLP services or for a maximum of 8 weeks, whichever comes first. Throughout the telemedicine treatment phase, patients' progress will be monitored remotely by a study SLP through Apps/Skype/Facetime/Telephone consultation on a weekly basis.

Behavioral: iPad

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Patients will be sent home with standard of care.

Interventions

iPad BEHAVIORAL

Using iPad speech therapy apps on patients with post-stroke communication deficits

Treatment Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Patients with diagnosis of stroke being discharged from the Neurology unit and/or the Neurology Acute Care Unit in the Civic Campus of TOH.
• Patients presenting with overall mild to moderate communication deficits, And/or
• Patients with score ≥ 1 on the best language and/or dysarthria parameters of the National Institute of Health Stroke Score (NIHSS)
• Stroke Patients being discharged to their HOME/PRIMARY RESIDENCE awaiting outpatient speech and language therapy services.
• And/or
• Patients being discharged to their HOME/PRIMARY RESIDENCE who would benefit from SLP therapy services but are unable to receive these secondary to various accessibility challenges (i.e. remote geographical location, limited service availability, transportation, unable to pay for SLP services).
• Patients must have access to Wi-Fi connection at their HOME/PRIMARY RESIDENCE.

You may not qualify if:

• \. Patients with pre-existing speech, language disorders or cognitive disorders (such as dementia).
• \. Patients with severe debilitating disease(s) that, in the opinion, of the investigator will not be able to perform the required tasks of the study (ex: end-stage malignancy, ALS).
• \. Patients with severe comprehension deficits 4. Patients not having access to Wi-Fi connection at HOME/PRIMARY RESIDENCE. 5. Patients who will be accessing the services of a private SLP while awaiting outpatient rehab.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ottawa Hospital Research Institute: lead

Study Sites (1)

The Ottawa Hospital

Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y4E9, Canada

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Berthier ML. Poststroke aphasia : epidemiology, pathophysiology and treatment. Drugs Aging. 2005;22(2):163-82. doi: 10.2165/00002512-200522020-00006.

  PMID: 15733022 BACKGROUND

• Nichols-Larsen DS, Clark PC, Zeringue A, Greenspan A, Blanton S. Factors influencing stroke survivors' quality of life during subacute recovery. Stroke. 2005 Jul;36(7):1480-4. doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000170706.13595.4f. Epub 2005 Jun 9.

  PMID: 15947263 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stroke

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Karen Mallet
• Organization: Champlain Regional Stroke Network & Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

kmallet@toh.ca

6137985555

Study Officials

• Karen Mallet, M.H.Sc

  Speech language Pathologist

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 22, 2015
• First Posted: November 26, 2015
• Study Start: December 1, 2015
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2017
• Study Completion: June 1, 2017
• Last Updated: May 6, 2026
• Results First Posted: May 6, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Locations

CA (1)