Browsing by Author "Groves, Christine C."

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    Enhancing Stroke Awareness and Activation Among High-Risk Populations: A Randomized Direct Mail Intervention in Diverse Healthcare Settings
    (American Heart Association, 2025) Groves, Christine C.; Damush, Teresa M.; Myers, Laura J.; Baye, Fitsum; Daggy, Joanne K.; Perkins, Anthony J.; Martin, Holly; Mounsey, Layne; Clark, Daniel O.; Williams, Linda S.; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine
    Background: Many patients are unaware of their stroke risk. The purpose of this research was to compare the effect of behaviorally tailored mailed messages on patient activation to reduce stroke risk. Methods: Randomized parallel group clinical trial. We used electronic health records to construct Framingham Stroke Risk Scores in primary care patients from 1 Veterans Health Administration (VA) and 1 non-VA healthcare system, Eskenazi Health System (EHS). Four stroke risk messages were developed through patient interviews: standard, incentive ($5 gift card), salience, and incentive plus salience. The standard message served as the comparison group. Patients in the highest Framingham Stroke Risk Score quintile were randomly assigned to receive one of the messages. All letters asked the patient to call a stroke prevention coordinator, the primary outcome. Response to the messages was modeled separately in the 2 cohorts using logistic regression. Results: In total, 2084 EHS patients (mean age, 65.6; 36% male; 68% Black; mean Framingham Stroke Risk Score, 13.1) and 1759 VA patients (mean age, 75.6; 99% male; 86% White; mean Framingham Stroke Risk Score, 18.6) received a letter. Rates of calls to the coordinator were 13% among the EHS and 23% among the VA cohort. The EHS cohort was significantly more likely to respond to the incentive message compared with the standard message (odds ratio, 1.97 [95% CI, 1.17-3.09]), and the VA cohort was more likely to respond to the incentive plus salience message (odds ratio, 1.50 [95% CI, 1.02-2.22]). Among individuals calling the coordinator, 31% of the EHS cohort and 27% of the VA cohort were unaware they had stroke risk factors. Conclusions: A mailed message including a $5 incentive was more effective than a standard message in engaging high-risk patients with their healthcare system, including a salience message may also be important in some patient populations. Many primary care patients are unaware of their stroke risk.
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    Feasibility Assessment of the ICF Minimal Generic Set as a Disability Screening Tool in Rural Nepal
    (University of Gondar, 2021) Witte, Paul; Tamang, Suresh; Groves, Christine C.; House, Darlene R.; Khadka, Laxman; Bhotia, Thorang; Hartman, Jeff; Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine
    Purpose: Nepal’s 2017 Disability Rights law provided a new national definition of disability consistent with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Updated measurement methods are now indicated to assess disability, suitable for use in populations where self-report tools may be sub-optimal. This study describes the development and field testing of a screening methodology using a clinical assessment conducted by trained non-professionals to score the ICF Minimal Generic Set (MGS). Method: A prospective, 2-stage assessment of disability was conducted over an eight-month period among a convenience sample of individuals aged ≥ 18, admitted to a rural District Hospital in Northeastern Nepal. After 30 hours of training, non-professional assessors completed Stage 1 screening during hospital admission, with positive screening thresholds set on the basis of MGS scores. A physiotherapist completed Stage 2 assessments in the homes of participants with long-term disability, after their hospital discharge. Results: Data from 161 participants was analysed, with 159 (98.8%) screening positive for either temporary or long-term disability. Stage 1 screening was completed independently by assessors in 8-12 minutes. Of the 35 participants (21.7%) with positive screening for long-term disability, 13 (37.1%) underwent Stage 2 detailed evaluation. Disability was confirmed in all Stage 2 assessments, indicating feasibility of the screening process. Conclusion: Disability screening conducted by trained non-professional assessors using clinical assessment to score the MGS appears to be a promising methodology, and warrants further investigation. If it is found to be valid, it could provide a powerful tool to increase the visibility of disability among some of the most vulnerable populations.
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    Functional outcome following inpatient rehabilitation among individuals with complete spinal cord injury in Nepal
    (Springer Nature, 2021-10-07) Khatri, Prakriti; Jalayondeja, Chutima; Dhakal, Raju; Groves, Christine C.; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine
    Objectives: To describe functional outcomes using Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM III) following inpatient rehabilitation among individuals with complete spinal cord injury (SCI) in the low-income setting of Nepal; to evaluate functional changes from rehabilitation admission to discharge and to compare functional outcomes between neurological levels of injury (NLI) at discharge. Setting: Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre (SIRC), Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal. Methods: We present data of all individuals with complete SCI who completed rehabilitation at SIRC in 2017. Data collected included: demographics, aetiology, neurological assessment, admission/discharge SCIM III scores, and length of stay. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Pre/post-SCIM III scores were analyzed using Related-Samples Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Comparative analysis between NLIs was done using the Kruskal Wallis ANOVA test followed by pairwise Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Ninety-six individuals were included. Mean (SD) age was 33.5 (14.2) years, with a male/female ratio of 3.4:1. Median admission and discharge total SCIM III scores for cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral levels were 10 and 21, 16 and 61, and 41 and 79.5, respectively. Median total SCIM III score change between admission and discharge were 11 (p = 0.003), 43 (p < 0.001) and 40 (p = 0.068) for cervical, thoracic and lumbar groups, respectively. Conclusions: This study is the first of its kind to describe functional outcomes among individuals with complete SCI in the low-income setting of Nepal. All SCI groups showed a positive trend in SCIM III from admission to discharge, with improvements reaching statistical significance among groups with cervical and thoracic NLIs.
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    Patient handling and transportation from site of injury to tertiary trauma centres in Nepal following acute traumatic spinal cord injury: a descriptive study
    (Springer Nature, 2022-09-10) Shrestha, Saraswati; Shrestha, Kritan; Groves, Christine C.; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine
    Study design: Descriptive study. Objectives: To describe patient handling at injury site, number of healthcare centre transfers to reach tertiary trauma centre, modes of transportation, and time from injury to reaching tertiary trauma centres among individuals with acute traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI). Setting: Acute SCI rehabilitation centre, Nepal. Methods: All individuals with new tSCI admitted for rehabilitation over period of 1 year were eligible for enrolment. Following written, informed consent, enroled individuals participated in structured one-on-one interview. Data collected included demographics, injury details, pre-hospital handling techniques, and transportation specifics to tertiary trauma centre. Results: In total, 211 individuals were enroled in the study. Eight (4%) individuals were assisted by first responders or traffic police, with majority (n = 203, 96%) assisted by untrained individuals. One was transferred from injury site using spinal motion restriction measures. Half were transported exclusively by ambulance while others used combinations of transportation. Six (3.4%) individuals were cared for by trained medical person during transport. Half required two or more hospital transfers prior to reaching a tertiary trauma centre. In total, 98 individuals required >24 h to reach the tertiary trauma centre. Conclusions: Individuals sustaining a tSCI in Nepal often experience improper handling, multiple hospital transfers, and prolonged time to reach tertiary trauma centres following acute tSCI. Further expanding emergency medical response systems throughout the country, training and equipping first responders in spinal motion restriction techniques, and establishing clear referral pathways for individuals with suspected tSCI are warranted. Development in these specific areas may reduce morbidity and mortality following acute tSCI.
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    Patient handling and transportation from site of injury to tertiary trauma centres in Nepal following acute traumatic spinal cord injury: a descriptive study
    (Springer, 2022-09-10) Shrestha, Saraswati; Shrestha, Kritan; Groves, Christine C.; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine
    Study design Descriptive study. Objectives To describe patient handling at injury site, number of healthcare centre transfers to reach tertiary trauma centre, modes of transportation, and time from injury to reaching tertiary trauma centres among individuals with acute traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI). Setting Acute SCI rehabilitation centre, Nepal. Methods All individuals with new tSCI admitted for rehabilitation over period of 1 year were eligible for enrolment. Following written, informed consent, enroled individuals participated in structured one-on-one interview. Data collected included demographics, injury details, pre-hospital handling techniques, and transportation specifics to tertiary trauma centre. Results In total, 211 individuals were enroled in the study. Eight (4%) individuals were assisted by first responders or traffic police, with majority (n = 203, 96%) assisted by untrained individuals. One was transferred from injury site using spinal motion restriction measures. Half were transported exclusively by ambulance while others used combinations of transportation. Six (3.4%) individuals were cared for by trained medical person during transport. Half required two or more hospital transfers prior to reaching a tertiary trauma centre. In total, 98 individuals required >24 h to reach the tertiary trauma centre. Conclusions Individuals sustaining a tSCI in Nepal often experience improper handling, multiple hospital transfers, and prolonged time to reach tertiary trauma centres following acute tSCI. Further expanding emergency medical response systems throughout the country, training and equipping first responders in spinal motion restriction techniques, and establishing clear referral pathways for individuals with suspected tSCI are warranted. Development in these specific areas may reduce morbidity and mortality following acute tSCI.
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    Rehabilitation in Nepal
    (Elsevier, 2019-11) Dhakal, Raju; Groves, Christine C.; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine
    As a low-income country with a significant burden of disease and frequent natural disasters, the need for rehabilitation in Nepal is significant. Rehabilitation services currently available in Nepal are limited, but the government has recently adopted a 10-year action plan to address rehabilitation needs nationwide. Rehabilitation education and training is necessary to provide and retain adequate multidisciplinary rehabilitation providers for current and future needs in Nepal. The implementation of evidence-based recommendations to improve the quality of rehabilitation services and access to rehabilitation is critical to maximize individual and community well-being.
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    A team effort in Nepal: experiences from managing a large COVID-19 rehabilitation hospital outbreak
    (Nature, 2021) Dhakal, Raju; O'Connell, Colleen; Gurung, Jas Bahadur; Shah, Ram Prakash; Adhikari, Hari Prasad; Chandi, Nita; Groves, Christine C.; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine