Abstract

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, health and social service organizations have rapidly modified and adapted stroke support services to provide virtual delivery options. Virtual programming removed barriers for many people with disabilities allowing for timely, convenient, and efficient access to programming. The Heart & Stroke Living with Stroke™ program is an eight-week virtual program designed by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (Heart & Stroke) and delivered by March of Dimes Canada (MODC) and other organizations. The program provides education on various stroke-related topics, as well as peer support for people who have experienced a stroke and their caregivers. A program evaluation is being conducted by MODC and Heart & Stroke to understand the impact of the virtual program, identify opportunities to improve its delivery, and inform best-practices for community-based programs offered through a virtual medium. Two evaluation approaches will be used over the two-year study period. The Year 1 phase will leverage a developmental evaluation approach to assess program implementation, measure short-term and medium outcomes, and make adjustments to the program and evaluation tools. Year 2 will measure both process and short-, medium-, and long-term outcomes, and assess the program for feasibility and expansion. Results of the study will be disseminated through our partner network, at national and international conferences, and in international journals.