This page tells you what the project is about and how you can get involved.

What is e-OPTIMISM

e-OPTIMISM is a shortened form of the full title of the research project which is: Developing a Remote Psychoeducational Programme Following Transient Ischaemic Attack and Minor Stroke.  

The project aims to improve support for people who have experienced a TIA or a minor stroke. 

The e-OPTIMISM project is led by Associate Professor Eirini Kontou and Dr Jade Kettlewell, Assistant Professors at the University of Nottingham. Dr Kontou is also a Clinical Psychologist with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

The project is funded by the Stroke Association (ref PG2S22\100004).

Why are we doing the study?

People who experience a TIA or a minor stroke often feel emotional effects, such as anxiety and loss of confidence, and they may have difficulty returning to everyday activities. They are also at risk of having another stroke in the future. Those affected often say they need emotional support and advice on making lifestyle changes to improve their health and manage daily life after diagnosis. However, this type of support is not routinely offered to people who experience TIA or minor stroke.

To address this problem, in a previous study we created OPTIMISM which offered six face-to- face sessions with small groups of people who had experienced TIA/minor stroke. The sessions provided education, emotional support, and advice to help participants understand their condition and make lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of a future stroke and improve their quality of life.

Participants reported enjoying the group format and valued the support offered by OPTIMISM. However, some of them had difficulties attending sessions in person because of work or caring commitments, and some found travelling to sessions difficult. As a result, it was suggested that offering the sessions remotely, delivered via smartphones, laptops, or tablets, could improve accessibility and allow more people to benefit from the intervention.

The study aims to adapt the OPTIMISM intervention for remote delivery, called e-OPTIMISM, and identify any potential barriers to providing it. The results from the study will help to inform the design of a larger trial in future, seeking to ensure that e-OPTIMISM is available to as many people as possible who might benefit from it after experiencing a TIA or minor stroke.

What will happen in the e-OPTIMISM study?

The research will take place in two stages over 24 months (January 2026 to December 2027).

In the first stage of the study we will design e-OPTIMISM.

To do this we will:

• We will interview people who have experienced a TIA or minor stroke. We want to find out what support they think would be useful to help them to understand and cope following TIA or minor stroke. We will also ask for their views on support being delivered remotely by smartphone, laptop or tablet.

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• We will also be interviewing healthcare professionals who are likely to support people following a TIA or minor stroke e.g. GPs, nurses and charity support workers. We will ask whether they think there will be any challenges to delivering e-OPTIMISM through GP practices, who they think should deliver the support, and what training they might need.

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• We will then organise two workshops where people who have experienced a TIA or minor stroke will work together with experts to develop the e-OPTIMISM intervention.

In the second part of the study (January 2027 to December 2027) we will test e-OPTIMISM.

To do this we will:

• Invite people who have experienced TIA or minor stroke to take part in e-OPTIMISM. They will join six online sessions over two months using an online platform (Microsoft Teams).
• Participants will complete questionnaires before they start e-OPTIMISM and after they finish it. These questionnaires will measure their quality of life, goals, confidence, and knowledge.
• People who participate in e-OPTIMISM and people who deliver it will be invited to take part in an interview. They will be asked what they think of e-OPTIMISM, what improvements they think are needed, and what might affect its delivery.