The ARCANGEL study evaluates the feasibility of introducing ARC (Assisted Rehabilitation Care), a new device for home-based post-stroke rehabilitation in the current clinical practise. All the stroke survivors included in the study will received their own equipment to be used at home for 6 months.
Some relevant studies have indicated that approximately 36% of these survivors (i.e. more than 9 million in 2013 only) are left with significant disabilities 5 years after their stroke, and \>40% (i.e. more than 10 million) require assistance with activities of daily living. Despite evidence that participation in formal rehabilitative therapies lessens disability after stroke, less than a third receive inpatient or outpatient therapies. Of those who do access therapies, the frequency of use varies by geographic location and socioeconomic status. In this context, the development of new strategies able to expand the access to rehabilitation to an increased number of stroke patients, also enabling home-based conduction and monitoring, are increasingly necessary both for patients, their families and for the healthcare and social services sustainability. Since many barriers could limit access to continuous physical rehabilitation for these patients, devices that complement or assist in the rehabilitation process can be of great help. Among different approaches proposed by the scientific community, technological systems based on accelerometers seem to be among the most promising. Accelerometers are small low cost electronic devices, able to measure body parts acceleration on three axes. Many researchers have already highlighted that accelerometers have the capability to provide reliable and objective information on quantity and intensity of patient limbs movements during recovery process. Wearable devices such as accelerometers allow to monitor exercises and daily activities. Machine learning methodologies have already been applied for modelling and contextualizing accelerometric signals to identify activity types (walking, dressing, eating, washing up, etc.) or to recognize to which rehabilitative exercise these signals are linked to. These techniques allow to estimate the recorded movement quality, providing information useful to identify the context in which movements are performed. Results of these type of studies are promising and they demonstrate that machine learning is a preferred approach for accelerometric data analysis, since able to exceed actual limits that today are hampering commercial product development for real time analysis of movement. Within this scenario, Camlin-ARC takes its place. ARC is a platform based on wearable inertial sensors and machine learning algorithms, designed to bring the rehabilitation at post-stroke patients' home, following hospital discharge.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
41
ARC is a platform based on wearable inertial sensors and machine learning algorithms, designed to bring the rehabilitation at post-stroke patients' home, following hospital discharge. The product has been created with the purpose to improve physical skills and patient independence accordingly, in the six months following the acute event. ARC aims to optimize, ease and make more accessible the path of post-stroke rehabilitation during post-acute phase, in real life settings.
Azienda Sanitaria Locale 3, Torino
Pinerolo, Italy
Northern Health and Social Care Trust
Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Number of patients successfully completing the study
Number of patients completing the 6-month observation period
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 15 months
Ratio between the total number of subjects refusing to participate before training and the total number of subjects screened
Ratio between the total number of patients refusing to participate BEFORE starting trainings and the number of patients screened, as calculated by means of the Screening and Enrollment Log to be completed by each Site, the baseline baseline assessment (reporting a number of training sessions performed, which should be EQUAL TO 0), and the end of study visit.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 15 months
Ratio between the total number of subjects refusing to participate after training and the total number of subjects screened
Ratio between the total number of patients refusing to participate AFTER training and the total number of patients screened, as calculated by means of the Screening and Enrollment Log to be completed by each Site, the baseline baseline assessment (reporting a number of training sessions performed, which should be at least EQUAL TO 1), and the end of study visit.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 15 months
Number of training sessions
Average number of training sessions needed for a patient to be able to use ARC at home
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 15 months
Overall training period duration
Average time (days) needed to complete training sessions
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 15 months
Assisted Rehabilitation Care (ARC) questionnaire score
Average score from the ARC questionnaire, specifically designed to assess the following sub-scales: Use of Technology, ARC Usability, Wearability and Global Satisfaction For each dimension, a subscore is calculated as the sum of the value associated to each possible answer (one single answer is allowed for each question), from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Finally, the total score is calculated as sum of sub-scores.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: 6-month assessment
Assisted Rehabilitation Care (ARC) questionnaire change
Change at 6 months of ARC questionnaire score. The change is calculated as difference between the average total score calculated at 6 months and the average total score calculated at 3 months. (Score calculation method ref. Outcome 6)
Time frame: Evaluations at 3 and 6 months
ARC global satisfaction score
Global score on the ARC user satisfaction ranging from 1 (very low) to 5 (very high).
Time frame: 6-month assessment
Modified version of Adult Carer Quality of Life Questionnaire (AC-QoL) total score
In order to score the AC-QoL use the following scoring framework. Some of the questionnaire items are negatively worded (Value from 0 to 3, Never = 0 - Always = 3) and some are positively worded (Value from 0 to 3, Never = 3 - Always = 0). To calculate the total score, a calculation algorithm adds up each row for the score for each sub-scale, and add all the scores for the sub-scales to calculate the overall quality of life score.
Time frame: 6-month evaluation
Device-related adverse effects
Number of device-related adverse effects on the total number of adverse events reported.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 15 months
Modified Rankin Score change (N.Ireland)
The modified Rankin Score measures the degree of disability or dependence in the daily activities of people who have suffered a stroke or other causes of neurological disability. The scale has the following items and associated values: No symptoms at all = 0 No significant disability despite symptoms; able to carry out all usual duties and activities = +1 Slight disability; unable to carry out all previous activities, but able to look after own affairs without assistance = +2 Moderate disability; requiring some help, but able to walk without assistance = +3 Moderately severe disability; unable to walk and attend to bodily needs without assistance = +4 Severe disability; bedridden, incontinent and requiring constant nursing care and attention = +5 Dead = +6 This clinical outcome is used in Northern Ireland (UK) as part of the clinical practice.
Time frame: Change at 6-month from baseline
Barthel Index change (Italy)
The Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living (ADL) assesses functional independence in stroke patients. To each area, a score 0 (=impaired), 5 (needs help) or 10 (=independent) is to be associated. Areas included are: feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, bowel control, bladder control, toilet use, transfers, mobility on level surfaces, stairs. Score 5 is not allowed for some of the areas enlisted. The score is calculated as sum of the value achieved in each area. This clinical outcome is used in Italy as part of the clinical practice.
Time frame: Baseline assessment and 6-month visit
Euro Quality of Life - 5 Dimension (EQ-5D) Health Questionnaire summary index
Euro Quality of Life - 5 Dimension (EQ-5D) is a standardised instrument that measures the health-related quality of life. It consists of a descriptive system and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The descriptive system comprises 5 dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each dimension is divided into 3 levels (1 = no problem, 2 = some problems, 3 = to extreme problems). A unique health state is defined by combining 1 level from each of the 5 dimensions. Each state is represented by a 5 digit code (eg. 11111 = no problems on any of the 5 dimensions; 11223 = no problems with mobility and self care, some problems with usual activities, moderate pain or discomfort and extreme anxiety or depression). The EQ VAS records the patient's self-rated health (from 100 = best, to 0 = worst imaginable state). The EQ VAS is used to convert the EQ-5D states into a single index value, based on reference values available on EuroQoL Group website.
Time frame: 6-month evaluation
Euro Quality of Life - 5 Dimension (EQ-5D) Health Questionnaire summary index change
The Change from baseline measured after 6-month is calculated as the difference between the two average (i.e. 6-month and V0) summary indices. The descriptive system comprises 5 dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each dimension is divided into 3 levels (1 = no problem, 2 = some problems, 3 = to extreme problems). A unique health state is defined by combining 1 level from each of the 5 dimensions. Each state is represented by a 5 digit code (eg. 11111 = no problems on any of the 5 dimensions; 11223 = no problems with mobility and self care, some problems with usual activities, moderate pain or discomfort and extreme anxiety or depression). The EQ VAS records the patient's self-rated health (from 100 = best, to 0 = worst imaginable state). The EQ VAS is used to convert the EQ-5D states into a single index value, based on reference values available on EuroQoL Group website.
Time frame: Baseline assessment and 6-month visit
Signs of Depression Scale (SODS, N.Ireland)
Number of patients with a depressive mood, as assessed with the Signs of Depression Scale (SODS, English version used in N.Ireland). The scale consists of 6 questions for which allowed answers are yes (value = 1) or no (Value = 0). The total score is the sum of the values of each answer provided.
Time frame: Baseline assessment and 6-month visit
Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS, Italy)
Number of patients with a depressive mood, as assessed with the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) (Italian validated questionnaire). The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale is a short self-administered survey to quantify the depressed status of a patient. There are 20 items on the scale that rate the four common characteristics of depression: the pervasive effect, the physiological equivalents, other disturbances, and psychomotor activities. There are ten positively worded and ten negatively worded questions. Each question is scored on a scale of 1-4 (a little of the time, some of the time, good part of the time, most of the time). The scores range from 25-100.
Time frame: Baseline assessment and 6-month visit
Resource consumption
Average number of unscheduled face-to-face visits required
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 15 months