Inspiring virtual enabled resources following vascular events (iVERVE): Participants' perceptions.

Background: There is increasing interest in the use of electronic support for self-management after stroke, with little evidence on the effectiveness or acceptability. Aim(s): To explore participants perceptions of the acceptability, satisfaction and usefulness of electronic support for self-management after stroke. Method(s): We conducted a pilot randomised clinical trial design with mixed-methods analyses. Participants, recruited from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry, were randomised to intervention (goal setting and supportive messages) and control (administrative messages). A satisfaction survey was completed at the end of the 4-week trial (all participants). Ten participants from the intervention group were invited to participate in a focus group (FG) interview. Qualitative data were transcribed into NVivo. An inductive approach to thematic analysis was undertaken to code and summarise the data. Result(s): At follow-up, 27/54 satisfaction surveys were completed (14/25 intervention; 13/29 control). Five intervention participants attended the FG (80% male, median age 68, median time since stroke 21 months). The menu used to set goals was considered helpful (85%), and guidance from the clinicians was described as integral in ensuring goals were realistic and individualised. Participants in the intervention group felt the electronic messages were easy to understand (92%) and relevant, but some were ''too general''. Overall, they reported the messages assisted them to achieve their goals, and 85% would recommend the project to others. Conclusion(s): Use of tailored electronic support for ongoing self-management of survivors of stroke was acceptable, and deemed useful in achieving goals. These findings are valuable to inform future trial design.