Life After Stroke: An Inclusive Approach to Addressing Sensory Health Needs (2023-2024)

Stroke is a leading cause of death, disability, dementia and depression in the United States. After a stroke, people often experience major challenges in daily functioning due to various sensory deficits (e.g., vision, touch, hearing). However, there is very limited research exploring how these deficits impact participation in the health-promoting activities of daily living, such access to resources, community participation, social integration, mental health and quality of life.

There are also stark inequities in stroke acute care, rehabilitation and outcomes, meaning there is a critical need to use participatory research methods to engage marginalized and vulnerable populations who suffer health inequities related to stroke and are underrepresented in stroke research. 

Building on the work of the 2022-2023 team, this team worked to: 

  1. Identify groups who are underrepresented in stroke research and groups who suffer health inequities in stroke outcomes, particularly Black, Hispanic and Asian populations.
  2. Review and identify best practices for participatory research for the project in the Durham area.
  3. Identify community gathering places and points of contact to begin the recruitment process for focus groups.

The team’s long-term goal is to develop interventions that support the sensory health needs of all stroke survivors.

Learn more about the team’s findings by reading their team profile.

Timing

Fall 2023 – Spring 2024

Team Outputs

How Post-Stroke Changes in Sensory Health Affect Daily Life (Team Profile; 2024 Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Virtual Showcase)

Life After Stroke: A Sensory Health Initiative (Poster presented at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 17, 2024)

Inclusive protocols and recruitment strategies for underrepresented groups in stroke research

Manuscript emphasizing participatory research methods 

See earlier related team, Life After Stroke: A Sensory Health Initiative (2022-2023).

 

Image: Cross-sectional T1-weighted MRI of a healthy human brain, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Cross-sectional T1-weighted MRI of a healthy human brain produced at a ultra high-field MR of 7 Tesla.

Team Leaders

  • Antoine Bailliard, School of Medicine-Orthopaedic Surgery
  • MaryBeth Gallagher, School of Medicine-Orthopaedic Surgery

/graduate Team Members

  • Lauren Bailey, Grad Innovation & Entrprship
  • Aubrey Enriquez, Grad Innovation & Entrprship
  • Itzel Grijalva, Grad Innovation & Entrprship

/undergraduate Team Members

  • Neha Vutakuri, Neuroscience (BS)
  • Amruth Addanki, Neuroscience (BS)
  • Ithika Senthilnathan, Program II (BS)
  • Hidaya Ougui, DKU Interdisciplinary Studies (BS)
  • Sophia Li, Neuroscience (BS)
  • Srishti Kumari, Neuroscience (BS)
  • Ty Johnson, Neuroscience (BS)
  • Haley Geers
  • Daniella Galtes, Biology (BS)
  • Navina Doss

/zcommunity Team Members

  • Durham/Duke Stroke Support Group
  • Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity at Duke
  • North Carolina Black Disabilities Network
  • Orange/Hillsborough Caregiver Support Group
  • UNC School of Medicine

Theme(s):