Mrs Andrea Brown1, Ms Sarah Amesz3, Ms Liz Judd1, Dr Brendan Major2, Dr Karen Borschmann3, A/Prof Dana Wong4, Prof Natasha Lannin5,6, Dr Toni Withiel7, Prof Emma Power8, Dr Tanya Rose8, Prof Julie Bernhardt3, Prof Maria Crotty1, Prof Vincent Thijs3, Mr Dave Flood9
1Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia, 2Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, 3The Florey, Melbourne, Australia, 4La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, 5Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia, 6Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, 7Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, 8University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 9On behalf of the Young Stroke Service project team.
Abstract:
Purpose:
Needs of young people after stroke are different to those of older people due to their stage of life and responsibilities. Most young people with stroke report unmet needs after separation from existing health services. The Young Stroke Service (YSS) is a pilot program established in Victoria and South Australia with a vision to build an accessible, sustainable service for young adults that targets their needs and fills service gaps.
Nature and scope of topic:
Using a patient centred approach, the Young Stroke Unmet Needs Survey is used by the stroke survivor to identify their individual unmet needs. The tool is formatted to maximise inclusion of people with communication and cognitive difficulties. Stroke survivors select three top unmet needs and with support from the YSS, endeavour to rebuild their life after stroke.
Outcomes/Conclusion:
To date, 223 patients have accessed the YSS (mean age: 42.1 years, range: 18-55 years, 46.2% female, 53.8% male). Fifty-one distinct unmet needs have been selected out of a possible 53. The following unmet needs have most frequently been identified as ‘most important’: 1) fatigue (35%), 2) work/study (31.4%), and 3) memory and thinking difficulties (26.5%).
Young stroke survivors engage with the YSS interdisciplinary Allied Health, Nursing and Medical team to address unmet needs. Bespoke YSS services include Neuropsychological Assessment, Neuropsychological Intervention (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – Adapted for Brain Injury and Memory groups), Vocational Rehabilitation, and Driving Assessment.
Initial feedback indicates that young stroke survivors value the autonomy facilitated by the YSS in determining service priorities.