Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Stroke Organisation Conference 2026

Improving health behaviours and mental well-being after stroke or TIA through facilitated secondary prevention. (139541)

Beth Crane 1 , Skye Coote 1 , Elim Tai 1 , Johanne Kent 2 , Katherine Yong 3 , Emelyn Jovic 4 , Emily Farquhar 5 , Maddy Jenkins 1 , Melita Stirling 1
  1. Evidence, Quality and Research, Stroke Foundation, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  2. Lived Experience Expert, Navigation and Access, Stroke Foundation, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  3. Navigation and Access, Stroke Foundation, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  4. Royal Hobart Hospital - Rehabilitation, Tasmanian Health Service - South, Hobart, TAS, Australia
  5. Physiotherapy Department , Tasmanian Health Services - Northern Region, Launceston, TAS, Australia

Background and aim:

The Living Well After Stroke or Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) (LWAS) program is an eight-week online/telehealth program that supports participants to improve one self-selected modifiable stroke-risk factor (diet, physical activity, medication adherence, smoking, alcohol) through behavioural intervention. We aimed to demonstrate improved health behaviours and mental well-being regardless of time since stroke/TIA, or the participants’ socio-economic advantage (Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) decile).

Methods:

Participants completed two online surveys during the program and one eight-weeks post-completion. A comparative analysis of two years of data was conducted to examine outcomes by time since stroke/TIA, SEIFA decile, diagnosis, health behaviours, knowledge of secondary prevention, and mental well‑being (WHO‑5 Well‑Being Index).

Results:

A total of 126 participants were enrolled (84.3% online group, 15.7% telehealth), with most participants post-stroke (91.3% vs 8.7% TIA). Participants represented a range of socio-economic areas (SEIFA deciles 1-3=42.9%, 4-7=27%, 8-10=30.2%) and time since stroke/TIA (<3 months 45.2%, 3-12 months 25.4%, 1-5 years 19.8%, >5 years 9.5%). Despite targeting a single modifiable risk factor, improvements were observed across all risk factors, particularly diet (23% improvement) and physical activity (18% improvement). Reported knowledge and understanding of secondary prevention increased by 31%. Mental well-being increased from 47.2% (baseline) to 72.4% (post-intervention), with similar gains observed across all of SEIFA.

Conclusion:

Participation in the LWAS program was associated with improved health behaviours and mental well‑being, supporting the need for equitable access to structured, facilitated secondary prevention programs for all stroke/TIA survivors, regardless of SEIFA or time since stroke/TIA.