The Effects of a Blended Care Intervention in Partners of Patients With Acquired Brain Injury - Results of the CARE4Carer Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To assess effects of the CARE4Carer blended care intervention on caregiver mastery and psychosocial functioning compared with usual care in partners of patients with acquired brain injury (ABI).

Design: Multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Nine sites for rehabilitation medicine.

The longitudinal association between movement behavior patterns and the course of participation up to one year after stroke.

Purpose: (1) To investigate the differences in the course of participation up to one year after stroke between distinct movement behavior patterns identified directly after discharge to the home setting, and (2) to investigate the longitudinal association between the development of movement behavior patterns over time and participation after stroke.

Materials And Methods: 200 individuals with a first-ever stroke were assessed directly after discharge to the home setting, at six months and at one year. The Participation domain of the Stroke Impact Scale 3.

Burden, anxiety and depressive symptoms in partners - course and predictors during the first two years after stroke.

Background: Partners of patients with stroke are at high risk for burden, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Previous studies have reported contradictory results and did not investigate these three courses simultaneously. In this study we comprehensively studied the courses and predictors of burden, anxiety and depressive symptoms in partners of patients with stroke during the first two years after stroke.

Validity of the Utrecht scale for evaluation of rehabilitation-participation restrictions scale in a hospital-based stroke population 3 months after stroke.

Background: The Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation-Participation Restrictions scale (USER--R) is a promising patient-reported outcome measure, but has currently not been validated in a hospital-based stroke population.

Objective: To examine psychometric properties of the USER--R in a hospital-based stroke population 3 months after stroke onset.

Methods: Cross-sectional study including 359 individuals with stroke recruited through 6 Dutch hospitals.

Prevalence of cognitive impairment and change in patients with breast cancer: A systematic review of longitudinal studies.

Objective: Patients with breast cancer face cognitive impairment that affects their quality of life; partially attributable to treatment. Our aim was to detail the prevalence and change of cognitive impairment during the course of treatment. We also investigated the effect of therapy (chemotherapy [CT]) vs.

A trial-based economic evaluation of the Restore4Stroke self-management intervention compared to an education-based intervention for stroke patients and their partners.

Background: Since stroke survivors are increasingly responsible for managing stroke-related changes in their own health and lifestyle, self-management skills are required. In a recent randomised controlled trial a self-management intervention based on proactive coping action planning (SMI) in comparison with an education-based intervention (EDU) in stroke patients was investigated. However, no relevant treatment effects on the Utrecht Proactive Coping Competence scale (UPCC) and the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation Participation (USER-Participation) were found.

Participation restrictions in patients after surgery for cerebral meningioma.

Objectives: To examine participation restrictions in patients after surgery for cerebral meningioma and to explore possible determinants of participation.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Patients: Patients who had surgery for cerebral meningioma at the University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands, between 2007 and 2009.

Effectiveness of the Restore4Stroke self-management intervention "Plan ahead!": A randomized controlled trial in stroke patients and partners.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a self-management intervention aimed at proactive coping for stroke patients and partners, compared with an education intervention.

Design: Multicentre randomized controlled trial.

Participants: The study included 113 stroke patients (mean age 57.

Course of social support and relationships between social support and patients' depressive symptoms in the first 3 years post-stroke.

Objective: To describe the course of social support (everyday support, support in problem situations and esteem support) from initial inpatient rehabilitation until 3 years post-stroke and to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships of social support with depressive symptoms.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Subjects: A total of 249 stroke patients.

Cognitive and emotional problems in patients after cerebral meningioma surgery.

Objectives: To determine long-term cognitive complaints and symptoms of depression or anxiety in patients following surgery for a cerebral meningioma, and to examine factors associated with these outcomes.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Patients: Patients operated on for a cerebral meningioma in the University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands, between 2007 and 2009.

Study protocol of the Restore4Stroke self-management study: a multicenter randomized controlled trial in stroke patients and their partners.

Rationale: Many stroke patients and their partners report long-term negative consequences of stroke on their health-related quality of life. Adequate self-management abilities may help manage the consequences of the stroke, but it is unknown what specific intervention might be effective to enhance self-management abilities of stroke patients and their partners.

Aim: The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a 10-week group self-management intervention addressing proactive coping strategies compared with a group education intervention in stroke patients and their partners.

Screening for poststroke depression using the patient health questionnaire.

Background: Although poststroke depression has a significant impact on a patient's ability to recover after stroke, it is generally not recognized. Structured screening can help nurses identify symptoms of depression in stroke patients. In clinical practice, the utility of an instrument is as importantas its validity and reliability.

Life satisfaction of couples 3 years after stroke.

Purpose: To compare the life satisfaction of stroke patients to that of their spouses, and to examine spouses' variables as determinants of the patients' life satisfaction.

Method: Patients with a first-ever stroke who were admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation centre and their spouses were included (n=78 couples). Measurements took place 3 years after the stroke.

Reproducibility of three self-report participation measures: The ICF Measure of Participation and Activities Screener, the Participation Scale, and the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation-Participation.

Objective: To assess the reproducibility of 3 participation measures.

Design: Repeated administration of a postal questionnaire with a 2-week interval.

Participants: Outpatients (n = 47) from 2 rehabilitation centres and a university hospital in The Netherlands.

Functional recovery differs between ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke patients.

Objective: To determine whether there is a difference between patients with a cerebral infarction and those with an intracerebral haemorrhage with respect to the development of independence in activities of daily living over the first year post-stroke.

Methods: Patients after first-ever stroke who were admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation programme were included. The study had a longitudinal design and measurements took place at admission, 8, 10, 12, 26 and 52 weeks post-stroke.

A comparison of 3 generic health status questionnaires among stroke patients.

Several generic multidimensional health status questionnaires are available, but it is not clear whether or not these measures are interchangeable in terms of content. Consequently, we investigated the content validity of the Sickness Impact Profile 68 (SIP68), Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (SF-36), and the Darmouth COOP Functional Health Assessment Charts/World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians (COOP/WONCA) charts. A total of 198 stroke patients referred to inpatient rehabilitation were interviewed 1 year poststroke.

Cross-diagnostic validity of the SF-36 physical functioning scale in patients with stroke, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a study using Rasch analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate unidimensionality and differential item functioning of the SF-36 physical functioning scale (PF10) in patients with various neurological disorders.

Patients: PATIENTS post-stroke (n = 198), with multiple sclerosis (n = 151) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n = 193) participated.

Methods: Unidimensionality of the PF10 within the patient groups was investigated by performing a separate Rasch analysis for each group.

Predicting mobility outcome one year after stroke: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To develop a prognostic model to predict mobility outcome one year post-stroke.

Design: Prospective cohort study in patients with a first-ever stroke admitted for inpatient rehabilitation.

Patients: A total of 217 patients with stroke (mean age 58 years) following inpatient rehabilitation in 4 rehabilitation centres across the Netherlands.

Spouses' satisfaction with caregiver support in stroke rehabilitation.

Objective: To examine the satisfaction of spouses of stroke patients with the support given to them during clinical rehabilitation and to explore the relationships between satisfaction and characteristics of the support received.

Methods: Spouses of patients with a first-ever supratentorial stroke were included (n = 194). Satisfaction was measured on a 0-10 scale.

Differential item functioning of the Functional Independence Measure in higher performing neurological patients.

Objective: When comparing outcomes of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM ) between patient groups, item characteristics of the FIM should be consistent across groups. The purpose of this study was to compare item difficulty of the FIM in 3 patient groups with neurological disorders.

Subjects: Patients with stroke (n=295), multiple sclerosis (n=150), and traumatic brain injury (n=88).