[Future Workshop "Interprofessional diagnostics of out-of-home walking-related participation of people after stroke" - Participatory Action Research to develop action plans].

PURPOSE: Improving out-of-home walking-related participation after stroke involves multiple stakeholders. Interprofessional diagnostics should constitute a prerequisite for outpatient therapeutic and assistive device provision. The overarching aim of this multi-methods study is the bottom-up development of a toolkit for this field. The aims of this sub-study were to identify challenges and co-creatively develop solution strategies for gaps in interprofessional collaboration.

METHODS

A future workshop was conducted as a method of participatory action research in the Upper Bavaria District. Data analysis followed Mayring's qualitative content analysis and was guided by a model of interprofessional collaboration including interactional, organizational, and systemic determinants.

RESULTS

Participants included people after stroke (n=5), relatives (n=1), and health professionals (n=17) from occupational and physical therapy, orthopaedic technology, general medicine, neuropsychology, nursing, statutory health insurance funds, counselling services, and foundations. They identified challenges extending beyond interprofessional diagnostics of out-of-home walking-related participation but related to it. Four action plans were developed for main points of criticism: (1) assessment toolbox, (2) interprofessional home visits, (3) digital communication, and (4) a participation roadmap. Shared core elements included participation-oriented person-centred care, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, and empowerment of people after stroke and their relatives.

CONCLUSION

The future workshop enabled the bottom-up development of solution strategies, which will be integrated into the design of a toolkit to support collaboration. Further development, evaluation, and sustainable implementation require reforms of legal frameworks, stronger cooperation between academia, service providers, and municipalities, improved digital infrastructure, and funding models for interprofessional collaboration.