Why do some people with stroke not receive the recommended 45 min of occupational therapy and physiotherapy after stroke? A qualitative study using focus groups

OBJECTIVES: To generate qualitative data on the views of Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists about why people do not receive the Royal College of Physicians’ recommended minimum of 45 minutes (min) of daily therapy after stroke, in order to inform a Delphi study. DESIGN: Focus group study. SETTING: Stroke services in the South of England. PARTICIPANTS: A total of nine participants, in two groups, including therapists covering inpatient and Early Supported Discharge (ESD) services with awareness of the 45 min guideline. RESULTS: Thematic analysis of focus group data identified five factors that influence the amount of therapy a person receives: The Person (with stroke), Individual Therapist, Stroke Multidisciplinary Team, the Organisation and the Guideline. Study findings suggest that the reasons why a person does not receive the therapy recommendation in inpatient and ESD services relate to either the suitability of the guideline for the person with stroke, or the ability of the service to deliver the guideline. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence for possible reasons why some people do not receive a minimum of 45 minutes of therapy, 5 days per week, related to (1) the suitability of the guideline for people with stroke and (2) services’ ability to deliver this amount of intervention. These two factors are related; therapists decide who should receive therapy and how much in the context of (a) resource availability and (b) people’s need and the benefit they will experience. The study findings, combined with the findings from other studies, will be used to initiate a Delphi study, which will establish consensus among therapists regarding the reasons why some people do not receive the guideline amount of therapy.