This pilot study prepares the way for a controlled evaluation of counselling of disabled stroke survivors and their carers. It assesses feasibility of methods and outcome measures potentially useful in the main study. The study elicited information about the psychological, physical, social and service needs, and the feelings of stroke survivors and their informal carers. Twenty patients and their carers were interviewed separately in their own homes. Results describe research tools which were refined, and demonstrate several unmet needs in the psychosocial domain. The main findings were a requirement for more information about stroke and for counselling in relation to 'care' problems arising out of the disability of stroke disease and the changes in dependency produced.

The National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People aims to develop integrated stroke services with specialized treatment, carer involvement, secondary prevention and rehabilitation. There is an emphasis upon the role of stroke coordinators. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between stroke coordinators and other agencies involved in stroke care, and to describe stroke coordinators' current roles. Interviews with 11 stroke coordinators across the West Midlands region took place and were evaluated using a grounded theory approach. The roles of stroke coordinators and the perceived levels of integration among stroke services varied between localities. In a few areas, a number of 'adhesive' factors helped bond the coordinator role to successful integration, while in most areas the absence of all or some of these factors made the role less effective. To meet the demands of the NSF, a stroke coordinator's role needs to be a high profile, corporate function, requiring a higher level of autonomy, accountability and responsibility, and demanding creativity and innovation from post holders.

Purpose -Marketers devote great efforts to maintaining brand value. However, brand value can come under attack in the absence of sufficient product performance and image differentiation in a process called unbranding. This paper aims to provide insights and guidelines that will give marketing managers tools to deal with variables that impact consumer decisions on whether to buy a national brand or a store brand product. Design/methodology/approach -A consumer research study was based on a random, mall intercept with 188 respondents consisting of seven questions scored on a ten-point scale. The results are presented on a set of graphs accompanied with some analysis of means (ANOM) applications. Findings -Results indicated that a significant portion of consumers (from over 40 percent to a high of 85 percent) feel that the quality differences between branded and generic products have diminished and the price premiums charged by branded products are often no longer justifiable.Research limitations/implications -The findings of this study imply that in branded product premium image must be maintained and enhanced, otherwise it will be lost. In addition, the trend of brand value loss referred to as unbranding will vary significantly by and within a product category. Practical implications -Branded products must maintain their superior consumer perception and product performance. Store or generic brand marketers should exploit the favorable price-value relationship gained because of the loss of brand value through a process of store branding. Originality/value -The new concept of unbranding is introduced together with research-based recommendations for brand value protection strategies.

life of this important chemosterilizer, investigations should be undertaken with the polymeric,4 rather than the monomeric, form of glutaraldehyde.Full details of this work will be published elsewhere.-We are, etc.,

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