Current clinical practice in the screening and diagnosis of spatial neglect post-stroke: findings from a multidisciplinary international survey

Checketts, M. , Mancuso, M., Fordell, H., Chen, P., Hreha, K., Eskes, G. A., Vuilleumier, P., Vail, A. and Bowen, A. (2021) Current clinical practice in the screening and diagnosis of spatial neglect post-stroke: findings from a multidisciplinary international survey. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 31(9), pp. 1495-1526. (doi: 10.1080/09602011.2020.1782946) (PMID:32691688)

Abstract

Spatial neglect has profound implications for quality of life after stroke, yet we lack consensus for screening/diagnosing this heterogeneous syndrome. Our first step in a multi-stage research programme aimed to determine which neglect tests are used (within four categories: cognitive, functional, neurological and neuroimaging/neuromodulation), by which stroke clinicians, in which countries, and whether choice is by professional autonomy or institutional policy. 454 clinicians responded to an online survey: 12 professions (e.g., 39% were occupational therapists) from 33 countries (e.g., 38% from the UK). Multifactorial logistic regression suggested inter-professional differences but fewer differences between countries (Italy was an outlier). Cognitive tests were used by 82% (particularly by psychologists, cancellation and drawing were most popular); 80% used functional assessments (physiotherapists were most likely). 20% (mainly physicians, from Italy) used neuroimaging/ neuromodulation. Professionals largely reported clinical autonomy in their choices. Respondents agreed on the need for a combined approach to screening and further training. This study raises awareness of the translation gap between theory and practice. These findings lay an important foundation to subsequent collaborative action between clinicians, researchers and stroke survivors to reach consensus on screening and diagnostic measures. The immediate next step is a review of the measures’ psychometric properties.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: M. Checketts is funded by the Research Impact Scholarship from The University of Manchester. P. Chen is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research [grant numbers NIDIILRR, 90IFDV0001, 90SFGE0001], the New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research [grant number CBIR17PIL021] and the Wallerstein Foundation for Geriatric Life Improvement. K. Hreha is funded by the National Institutes of Health Eunice Kennedy Shiver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Rehabilitation Researcher Career Development Program [grant number K12 HD0055929]. P. Vuilleumier is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation [grant number SNF166704]. A. Bowen is part-funded by the Stroke Association, UK [grant number TSA LECT2015/01–SCOPE: Strategies to COPE with cognitive difficulties after stroke].
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Checketts, Dr Matthew
• Authors: Checketts, M., Mancuso, M., Fordell, H., Chen, P., Hreha, K., Eskes, G. A., Vuilleumier, P., Vail, A., and Bowen, A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• ISSN: 0960-2011
• ISSN (Online): 1464-0694
• Published Online: 21 July 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 The Author(s)
• First Published: First published in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation 31(9):1495-1526
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license