Lightning Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Stroke Organisation Conference 2026

What Enables Meaningful Participation After Stroke? Insights from Healthcare Professionals in Singapore (139373)

Upendranatha P Reddy 1 2 , Sandra G Brauer 1 , Bernadine Teng Sze Kee 3 , Melanie Hoyle 1 , Suzanne S Kuys 4 , Niruthikha Mahendran 1 5
  1. School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  2. Rehabilitation Services, Woodlands Health, Singapore, Singapore
  3. Health and Social Sciences, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore, Singapore
  4. School of Allied Health, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  5. STARS Education and Research Alliance, Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS), The University of Queensland and Metro North Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Background/Aims:

Meaningful participation is recognised as a key goal in post-stroke rehabilitation; however, the practicalities of healthcare can make it difficult to support. Understanding healthcare professional perspectives is essential to identify how to best enable meaningful participation. This study explored the perspectives of healthcare professionals on meaningful participation after stroke, including current practices, needs, and opportunities in Singapore.

Methods:
Eleven 1-hour focus groups and four semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom with 33 healthcare professionals in Singapore. Participants spanned eight disciplines, with 82% having over six years of experience in stroke rehabilitation, recruited from acute, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, and community settings. Data were analysed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis.

Results:
Meaningful participation was conceptualised as a subjective, context-dependent experience shaped by an individual’s pre-stroke life history, roles, values, and what they perceive as important in their post-stroke life. Healthcare professionals supported meaningful participation through strong collaborative therapeutic relationships, understanding the person, enabling environments and tailored person-centred interventions to promote engagement. However, these approaches were applied inconsistently and were constrained by service demands. Key needs included enhanced workforce training, clearer practice frameworks, and appropriate outcome measures. System-level constraints, including workforce/resource limitations, fragmented care, inflexible care models, and psychosocial support further restricted implementation.

Conclusion:
Healthcare professionals recognise meaningful participation as central to stroke recovery; However, implementation remains constrained by workforce and system-level limitations. Addressing these gaps requires strengthening clinician capability, improving organisational support, and enhancing continuity across care settings to enable long-term recovery and quality of life.

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