Telehealth-Based Support for Stroke in Australia: Exploring the Role of StrokeLine

Chaudhry, Muneeba T.

Telehealth-Based Support for Stroke in Australia: Exploring the Role of StrokeLine

Chaudhry, Muneeba T.

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Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2023

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Chaudhry, Muneeba T.
dc.date.accessioned	2024-04-21T23:55:28Z
dc.date.available	2024-04-21T23:55:28Z
dc.date.issued	2023
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/178154
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Graduate School of Health.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.description.abstract	In stroke care, transitions of care through the healthcare system are disconnected, often leaving survivors and families feeling abandoned. Telehealth-based services such as helplines specific to chronic health conditions have a valuable role in supporting people to self-manage their ongoing care. In Australia, StrokeLine is a helpline service that allows people affected by stroke to seek support from qualified health professionals via telephone, email and social media. This research aimed to explore StrokeLine's role in Australia by understanding its general utilisation, along with the experiences of stroke survivors in particular with the service and the perceived impact of calling StrokeLine on their ongoing recovery. The program of research included two studies. The first study was a retrospective cohort study that involved analysing call data from StrokeLine's customer relationship management system between November 2019 and November 2020. The findings revealed most calls came from stroke survivors, their carers, and family members. They primarily sought information, practical advice, emotional support, and referrals. However, data management processes showed significant gaps. The second study was an exploratory descriptive qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with stroke survivors. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts was used to highlight StrokeLine's potential significance across the long-term continuum of stroke care. Fragmented care post-rehabilitation prompted stroke survivors to seek clarity and emotional support. Participants initiated contact with StrokeLine, revealing individual agency and appreciated StrokeLine staff's expertise during the call. They felt validated, empowered and better equipped to self-manage their care after the call. StrokeLine is used by stroke survivors and their carers to seek person-centred information, advice and support when they most need it. For stroke survivors in particular, the service allows the self-management of their condition by facilitating re-engagement with their ongoing care. Enhancing data management processes and collaborating with diverse services could improve its relevance and reach across both culturally and geographically diverse settings in Australia, particularly during the transition to self-management of care in stroke. Understanding StrokeLine's impact may guide policymakers to make informed decisions regarding the sustainability of telehealth-based support services for stroke.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.format	Thesis (MPhysio)
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US.UTF-8
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/178154/1/thesis.pdf
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	© 2023 Muneeba T. Chaudhry
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/cph
dc.title	Telehealth-Based Support for Stroke in Australia: Exploring the Role of StrokeLine	en_US.UTF-8
dc.type	Thesis
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*

Abstract:

In stroke care, transitions of care through the healthcare system are disconnected, often leaving survivors and families feeling abandoned. Telehealth-based services such as helplines specific to chronic health conditions have a valuable role in supporting people to self-manage their ongoing care. In Australia, StrokeLine is a helpline service that allows people affected by stroke to seek support from qualified health professionals via telephone, email and social media. This research aimed to explore StrokeLine's role in Australia by understanding its general utilisation, along with the experiences of stroke survivors in particular with the service and the perceived impact of calling StrokeLine on their ongoing recovery. The program of research included two studies. The first study was a retrospective cohort study that involved analysing call data from StrokeLine's customer relationship management system between November 2019 and November 2020. The findings revealed most calls came from stroke survivors, their carers, and family members. They primarily sought information, practical advice, emotional support, and referrals. However, data management processes showed significant gaps. The second study was an exploratory descriptive qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with stroke survivors. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts was used to highlight StrokeLine's potential significance across the long-term continuum of stroke care. Fragmented care post-rehabilitation prompted stroke survivors to seek clarity and emotional support. Participants initiated contact with StrokeLine, revealing individual agency and appreciated StrokeLine staff's expertise during the call. They felt validated, empowered and better equipped to self-manage their care after the call. StrokeLine is used by stroke survivors and their carers to seek person-centred information, advice and support when they most need it. For stroke survivors in particular, the service allows the self-management of their condition by facilitating re-engagement with their ongoing care. Enhancing data management processes and collaborating with diverse services could improve its relevance and reach across both culturally and geographically diverse settings in Australia, particularly during the transition to self-management of care in stroke. Understanding StrokeLine's impact may guide policymakers to make informed decisions regarding the sustainability of telehealth-based support services for stroke.

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