A new international program designed to improve rehabilitation for stroke survivors around the world has been developed by researchers, including the lead author from Curtin University.
Every year, millions of people across the world survive strokes but are left with disabilities affecting movement, speech, and thinking. High-quality rehabilitation after a stroke is critical to a person’s recovery, but access to quality care can be a major barrier, especially for people in low and middle-income countries.
Now The World Stroke Organization (WSO) Rehabilitation Certification Program is hoping to change that. The program sets out clear standards for stroke rehabilitation services, helping hospitals and healthcare providers deliver the best possible care to patients recovering from stroke.
Lead author Dr Jessica Nolan, from Curtin University’s School of Allied Health, said the program aimed to address major gaps in quality of rehabilitation services, particularly in low and middle-income countries where the burden of stroke is greatest.
“While significant progress has been made in acute stroke management, access to high-quality rehabilitation remains inconsistent around the world,” Dr Nolan said.
“Rehabilitation is critical to helping stroke survivors regain independence, improve their quality of life and participate in their communities, yet many people still miss out on the care they need.”
“Our certification program is globally applicable and provides clear, evidence-based standards that can be implemented across a wide range of healthcare settings, from emerging rehabilitation services all the way through to highly specialised centres.”
The original WSO certification program, which commenced in 2021, was developed by an international team of experts and focuses on acute (early after stroke) interventions. The new rehabilitation certification program is designed to follow on from the acute program.
The final rehabilitation framework includes 55 recommendations covering key areas of stroke recovery, including mobility, communication, swallowing, mental health, exercise, discharge planning and ongoing support in the community.
After being tested across 15 centres in six middle income countries across three continents, the program is now ready to roll out globally. Setting clear, globally applicable standards means that more stroke survivors, regardless of where they live, will receive better, more consistent care.
Co-senior author Associate Professor Elizabeth Lynch, from Flinders University, said the certification program recognises the realities faced by rehabilitation services around the world.
“Services vary greatly between countries and regions, so rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, the program includes three levels of certification that allow services to work towards progressively higher standards of care,” Professor Lynch said.
“The goal is to support continuous improvement and ultimately ensure more stroke survivors have access to effective rehabilitation, regardless of where they live.”
The program allows services to improve and build their capabilities over time.
Dr Sean Savitz, MD, professor and neurologist at UTHealth Houston, Chair of the World Stroke Organization Rehabilitation Implementation Committee and co-senior author of the study, said it marked a major milestone for global stroke care.
“Surviving a stroke is only the beginning of the journey. Rehabilitation is what helps people regain their independence, return to their families, workplaces and communities, and rebuild their lives,” Dr Savitz said.
“This program will help raise the standard of stroke rehabilitation globally and make evidence-based care more accessible to the people who need it most.”
Australian stroke survivor Saran Chamberlain said rehabilitation played a critical role in her recovery.
“I was 38-years-old, fit and healthy, going to the gym several times a week and raising young children when I had my stroke,” Ms Chamberlain said.
The 51-year-old from Adelaide said rehab is not always just about the symptoms you can physically see.
“Recovery after stroke is not finite. More than a decade after my stroke, I still have no sensation in my left arm and hand, and I continue to experience fatigue and pain every day.
“Rehabilitation has been essential throughout my journey, not just in the early months after my stroke. Ongoing access to rehabilitation has enabled me to continue improving, adapt to new challenges and maximise my participation in everyday life.”
The WSO Rehabilitation Certification Program will be formally launched internationally at the World Stroke Congress in October.
The research, ‘World Stroke Organization (WSO) Rehabilitation Certification Program’, has been published in the International Journal of Stroke.
