The evidence-base for stroke education in care homes

Abstract

TitleThe Evidence-base for Stroke Education in Care Homes Research Questions 1. What are registered care home nurses' educational priorities regarding stroke care? 2. What are senior care home assistants' educational priorities regarding stroke care? 3. How do care home nurses conceive stroke care will be delivered in 2010? Study DesignThis was a two-year study using focus groups, stroke guidelines, professional recommendations and stroke literature for the development of a questionnaire survey for data collection. Workshops provided study feedback to participants. Data were collected in 2005-06. Study SiteGreater Glasgow NHS Health Board. Population and SampleA stratified random selection of 16 private, 3 voluntary and 6 NHS continuing care homes from which a sample of 115 trained nurses and 19 senior care assistants was drawn. ResultsThe overall response rate for care home nurses was 64.3% and for senior care assistants, 73.6%. Both care home nurses and senior care assistants preferred accredited stroke education. Care home nurses wanted more training in stroke assessment, rehabilitation and acute interventions whereas senior care assistants wanted more in managing depression, general stroke information and communicating with dysphasic residents. Senior care assistants needed more information on multidisciplinary team working while care home nurses were more concerned with ethical decision-making, accountability and goal setting. ConclusionsCare home staff need and want more stroke training. They are clear that stroke education should be to the benefit of their resident population. Guidelines on stroke care should be developed for care homes and these should incorporate support for continuing professional learning in relation to the resident who has had a stroke.Keywords: stroke, education, care homes, nurses, senior care assistants What this paper adds: This paper provides an evidence-based description of care home staff's educational needs in stroke. It contributes to the case for a specific career framework in stroke for all healthcare professionals regardless of care setting.

The Evidence of Interdisciplinary Teamwork in the Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients with Aphasia

“…The senior care assistants required more knowledge about team work in the assessment procedure [23].…”

“…In order to perform relevant interventions senior care assistants required education and training in how to communicate with dysphasic residents with cognitive, communication and speech problems [23].…”

“…Measurable standards and guidelines are warranted in the stroke rehabilitation process to identify patient needs [23]. assessment tool was developed by an international expert panel to standardize follow-up care for stroke patients [20].…”

“…Nurses and senior care assistants are the main staff categories in the care of persons with stroke [23]. These nurses experienced working in isolation with few opportunities for teamwork and expressed a strong need for interdisciplinary cooperation to increase the quality of the rehabilitation [23].…”

“…These nurses experienced working in isolation with few opportunities for teamwork and expressed a strong need for interdisciplinary cooperation to increase the quality of the rehabilitation [23].…”