How primary care can help stroke survivors with returning to work: focus groups with stakeholders from a UK community

BACKGROUND: Evidence about how primary care can best enable survivors of transient ischaemic attack (TIA)/stroke return to work is limited. AIM: This study explored the role of primary care in supporting survivors of transient ischaemic attack (TIA)/stroke return to work with stakeholders from a local UK community. DESIGN: A qualitative study using framework analysis. METHOD: Four focus groups were carried out in Cambridgeshire, UK, between September and November 2015. The 18 participants included survivors of TIA/stroke, carers, an employer representative, GPs, occupational therapists (OTs), and clinical commissioners. RESULTS: There was a mismatch between patient and carer needs and what is provided by primary care. This included: lack of GP awareness of invisible impairments; uncertainty how primary care could help in time-limited consultations; and complexity of return-to-work issues. Primary care physicians were not aware of relevant services they could refer patients to, such as OT support. In addition, there was an overall lack of coordination between different stakeholders in the return-to-work process. Linking with other services was considered important but challenging because of ongoing changes in service structure and the commissioning model. Suggestions for improvement include: a central contact in primary care for signposting to available services; a rehabilitation assessment integrated with the electronic record; and a patient-held shared-care plan at discharge from stroke wards. CONCLUSION: Improving the role for primary care in helping survivors of TIA/stroke return to work is challenging. However, primary care could play a central role in initiating/coordinating vocational rehabilitation. Through focus group discussions with stakeholders from a local community, patients, carers, and clinical commissioners were able to put forward concrete proposals to address the barriers identified