BACKGROUND/AIMS
The Take Charge intervention, delivered early after hospital discharge following acute stroke, is effective at improving 12-month health status, independence and advanced activities of daily living.1,2 This study aimed to provide a deeper understanding of the mechanism of action of this ‘talking therapy’.
METHODS
We completed a qualitative investigation based on interviews with 9 participants of the Taking Charge after Stroke (TaCAS) trial, three from each of the three arms of the trial: receiving two, one, or zero Take Charge sessions (the control group). Purposive sampling, semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis were used.
RESULTS
The overall theme of ‘Doing things my way / coming to know my own wisdom and expertise’ was enabled by ‘being listened to and feeling heard’ and ‘focusing on the goals which were important to me’, both strongly expressed by people who received the Take Charge intervention, and hindered by ‘medical paternalism’ and ‘loss of sense of self / “not me”’ most commonly expressed by people in the control arm.
CONCLUSION
These findings extend our understanding of the mode of action in the Take Charge intervention and provide material for further development of the tool as well as a re-appraisal of aspects of current rehabilitation practice.