A Theory-driven Visual Arts-based Intervention for Community-dwelling Stroke Survivors

Stroke is the second-leading cause of death and the major cause of disability worldwide. With advanced progress in stroke treatment, more people with stroke now survive longer than in past decades and become stroke survivors living in the community. Improvements in stroke rehabilitation services further boost physical outcomes and increase functional independence in stroke survivors after discharge. Whereas psychosocial issues commonly persist over the recovery journey in community-dwelling stroke survivors, such as psychological distress, low self-efficacy and reduction in social participation. Existing research suggested that enhancing self-efficacy is important to post-stroke psychosocial recovery, while the benefits of visual arts-based interventions in promoting post-stroke psychosocial functions have also been found. However, the current visual arts-based interventions were not well designed with a theoretical framework. Thus, this study will be conducted to contribute to current knowledge of the effectiveness of visual arts-based intervention grounded on Bandura's Self-Efficacy Theory on community-dwelling stroke survivors. This current study will be conducted as a two-arm randomised controlled trial. Eligible participants will be randomised into either a four-week visual arts-based intervention group or a usual stroke care control group. The control group will continue with the usual stroke care provided by community healthcare services. Participants will be assessed 3 times at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), and one-month post-intervention (T2).