Evaluating the use of Normalisation Process Theory to explore participants' experiences of a complex intervention in the RETurn to work After stroKE (RETAKE) trial

Introduction: Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) is widely used to explore how new healthcare practices are understood, enacted, reflected upon and embedded in usual practice, typically focussing on professionals’ behaviours. NPT is less commonly used to explore patients’ experiences during implementation of new interventions. The RETurn to work After stroKE (RETAKE) trial used NPT’s four constructs (coherence, cognitive participation, collective action, reflexive monitoring) in comparing experi-ences of stroke survivors who received Early Stroke Specialist Vocational Rehabilitation (ESSVR) with recipients of usual care (UC) only.Method: Semi-structured interviews with 44 stroke survivors (23 who received ESSVR and 21 UC participants). NPT underpinned data collec-tion and analysis.Results: RETAKE OTs helped participants in the ESSVR arm make sense of stroke, accept stroke-related limitations, and develop intervention understanding (coherence) more easily than most UC participants. RETAKE OTs typically involved all stakeholders in return-to-work (RTW) plans, facilitating co-operation and engagement (cognitive participation), whereas UC participants described poor co-ordination between services and limited or no focus on RTW. ESSVR participants completed individu-ally tailored work-related tasks, with RETAKE OTs mediating workplace adjustments and monitoring employment progress (collective action). In contrast, OT involvement in work preparation and employer negotiations for UC participants was rare. RETAKE OTs supported ESSVR participants to reflect on the appropriateness of RTW post-stroke or explore alterna-tives (reflexive monitoring). However, few UC recipients were supported to consider the suitability of their current work roles; consequently, some reported feeling ‘abandoned’ by health services.Conclusion: NPT was useful in exploring participants’ perspectives of a complex intervention in the RETAKE trial.