Rehabkompassen™ - a patient-centered digital tool for facilitating the post-stroke continuum of care - A multicenter pragmatic randomized controlled trial

Stroke is a leading cause of disability with heavy burden for the patients and society. An effective solution is desperately needed for improving post-acute care according to Socialstyrelsen’s demand.

We have created and developed a novel digital graphic Rehabkompassen™ that based on patient-reported outcome measurements (PROM) captures a broad spectrum of the stroke patient´s health status. With the Rehabkompassen™ the patient answers PROM questionnaires at home via 1177.se before the out-patient visit.

The PROM results are presented in an easy-to-understand manner via a graphic image that is used by the doctor to assess rehabilitation needs together with the patient during the visit.

The overall aim of the study is to determine whether a digital Rehabkompassen™ with an out-patient visit, in comparison with an out-patient visit alone, improves daily activity and quality of life for patients discharged from hospital after stroke or TIA, and reduces cost in healthcare and community.

When an ongoing feasibility pilot study has finished, the applied study will be carried out under 2021-2023. All participating clinics will be randomized into different groups (cluster) according to a stepped wedge design. Each participating patient will receive two clinical visits at 3- and 12-month follow-up after stroke onset.

At 3-month visit, stroke patients will have a clinical visit without (Control group) or with (Treatment group) the Rehabkompassen™ Following the clinical visit, a qualitative interview and structured questionnaires will be conducted among both healthcare staff and patients for evaluating utility of the tool.

At 12-month visit, the patient fills in the PROMs and a questionnaire to collect the information needed for the health economic analyzes of the Rehabkompassen™.

Our hope is that the Rehabkompassen™ can improve the patient’s daily activity and quality of life without adding extra expenses to the heavy burdened health care.