Priorities for the Secondary Prevention of Stroke in Ireland

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Project Area: Population health research

Project Summary

Stroke is a leading cause of disability. After ischemic stroke and Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA), the risk of recurrent stroke is 11% at 1 year and 26% at 5 years. International clinical guidelines and the National Stroke Strategy (2022-2027) call for the implementation of secondary prevention targeting: 1) lifestyle risk factors (nutrition, physical activity, smoking cessation and substance use), 2) high blood pressure, 3) high levels of fat in the blood, 4) high glucose levels and 5) obesity, which are multidisciplinary and individually-targeted, as an integral part of stroke care. Modelling studies show that the initiation of a model of care to assess and manage vascular risk factors could reduce the risk of recurrent stroke by up to 80%. However, conclusive evidence is lacking on how best to support people with stroke and TIA to engage in vascular risk reducing behaviours. This identifies a clear direction for future research. We aim to develop data-driven, co-designed multidisciplinary secondary prevention intervention to tackle the urgent issue of recurrent stroke.

Objectives include:

  1. To examine the totality of evidence in relation to the effectiveness of multidisciplinary secondary prevention interventions in ischemic stroke and TIA
  2. To use an existing population-based data to examine the traditional and emerging risk factors for stroke among people with ischaemic stroke or TIA
  3. To use co-design methodology to develop a secondary prevention intervention for subsequent evaluation in the Irish healthcare setting.

Seriously lacking secondary prevention strategies in Ireland is a major public health concern. This project team will make a substantial contribution to stroke research and healthcare practice and policy, by co-designing a multidisciplinary secondary prevention intervention to tackle the urgent issue of recurrent stroke.

Skills Required

(If applying for this project you will be asked to outline how you meet the skills required below)

Essential:

  • Demonstrable interest in stroke healthcare
  • Excellent work ethic
  • Attention to detail and thoroughness in work practices and an ability to work to deadlines
  • A capacity to work collaboratively as part of a team as well as independently

Desirable:

  • Academic writing skills- previous publication in peer-reviewed journal
  • Proficient use of data management software, e.g. STATA, SPSS
  • Experience of quantitative research methods
  • Experience of quantitative research methods

Supervisory team:

Prof Sara Hayes, PI/Primary Supervisor,
Discipline of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health, Ageing Research Centre, University of Limerick.

Prof Rose Galvin, School of Allied Health, University of Limerick

Prof Katie Robinson, School of Allied Health, University of Limerick

This project is based in the University of Limerick.