Stroke survivors’ experiences of team support along their recovery continuum

Abstract

BackgroundA coordinated stroke rehabilitation care team is considered optimal for supporting stroke survivors from diagnosis to recovery. Despite this recognition, many stroke survivors cannot access essential rehabilitation services. Furthermore, there is a lack of understanding of stroke patients’ and their caregivers’ rehabilitation needs and wishes. We sought to gain insight into healthcare and social structures from the perspective of patients and caregivers that can better support long-term stroke recovery.MethodsWe conducted individual interviews with 24 participants comprised of stroke survivors, spousal caregivers, stroke support group coordinators, and speech pathologist. Participants were recruited through three stroke survivor support groups. An empowerment lens was integrated into data analysis and data interpretation.ResultsTwo dominant themes captured participants’ experiences through stroke survivors’ trajectory of care. 1) Experiences of managing stroke. This theme identified stroke survivors and spousal caregivers’ experiences with stroke recovery, rehabilitation, and fulfilling unmet needs. 2) Resources of support. This theme described the social and financial support structures drawn upon to assist with stroke rehabilitation.ConclusionsThe study highlighted a lack of teamwork between stroke survivors, spousal caregivers, and health professionals. This fragmented care was compounded by inequities in rehabilitation programs and health services resulting in what appeared to be a disempowering rehabilitation process. Although stroke recovery groups were a significant source of support for stroke survivors and spousal caregivers, participants perceived they were overlooked, by stroke recovery healthcare providers, as a site for stroke recovery healthcare services. An empowerment approach to stroke rehabilitation involves collaboration between stroke survivors, caregivers, healthcare providers, health services, and existing community stroke support structures. Framing stroke based care through an empowerment lens may serve to address stroke rehabilitation inadequacies and inequities.

An Integrative Review Considering the Impact of Storytelling and Sharing Interventions in Stroke

“…The three qualitative studies exploring this aspect of interventions [ 29 , 33 , 34 ] consistently identified the benefits of involving carers or families in the group sessions such as informational exchange and support. This is supported by past research [ 48 ], which identified such support as essential. Further research is required to consider the impact of the intervention on mood states, as changes have been identified across other chronic illnesses [ 23 ].…”

Assessing the readiness of hospitals in Riyadh Province for efficient and timely stroke management: A pilot study

“…13,14 After transient ischemic attack or minor stroke, the risk of consequent stroke is lower for patients treated by services that provide emergency intervention using a multidisciplinary approach. 15 Our results showed that in only approximately two-thirds of our studied hospitals, patients with stroke symptoms were most likely to be admitted to the ICU in the first 72 h, only 35.14% of hospitals had arrangements with a local ambulance.…”

Nurses’ and occupational therapists’ experiences of conducting a home-based psychosocial intervention following stroke: a qualitative process evaluation

“…The importance of addressing post-stroke psychosocial needs is emphasized [13][14][15]. Persons with stroke themselves miss integrated strategies to prevent psychosocial problems [10,11,[16][17][18] and express disappointment at how health care professionals meet their individual needs and expectations during the rehabilitation process [5,11,13,16,19]. However, even though health care personnel are aware of the importance of addressing psychosocial needs during rehabilitation, there is still little evidence that these needs are systematically addressed in stroke rehabilitation [13,15].…”