Monday, November 3, 2003

This presentation is part of : Family Care Givers

Family and Community Integration for Stroke Survivors

Denise Marie McEnroe Ayers, MSN, RN1, Harriet Coeling, PhD, RN2, Nichole Egbert, PhD3, Greg Knapik, MSN, RN2, Lynn Koch, PhD4, Denise Polk, MS3, and Robert Pierce, PhD5. (1) College of Nursing, Kent State University-Tuscarawas, New Philadelphia, OH, USA, (2) College of Nursing, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA, (3) Communication Studies, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA, (4) College of Education, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA, (5) Speech Pathology and Audiology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
Learning Objective #1: Describe the constraints right hemisphere stroke survivors face as they reenter family and community life
Learning Objective #2: Describe the strategies that help SSs overcome constraints and reintegrate into family and community life

Objectives: Many right hemisphere Stroke Survivors (SSs) who have successfully completed a rehabilitation program do not return to active family/community involvement. The purpose of this study was to identiy (a) the constraints right hemisphere SSs face as they reenter family/community life, and (b) the strategies that have helped them overcome these constraints.

Design and Method: In this qualitative study SSs and their primary caregivers (CGs) were interviewed using a semi-structured interview format to identify SS constraints to family/community integration and strategies to overcome these constraints. Interviews were tape-recorded with permission and transcribed.

Population: The population consisted of elderly right hemisphere SSs who had completed some speech therapy and were able and willing to participate in a one-hour interview, along with their primary CGs.

Sample: 12 SSs and their primary CGs participated in this study.

Setting: Interviews were conducted in SSs homes in Ohio (U.S.A.).

Conncepts/variables: Right hemisphere SSs, CGs, and Family/Community Integration were the key concepts.

Analysis Method: Data was analyzed using the constant comparative method of Grounded Theory.

Findings: SSs and CGs identified insufficient financial resources, communication difficulties, fatigue, depression, cognitive/perceptual difficulties, and difficulty relating to others as constraints to family/community involvement. They identified the following strategies as facilitators for involvement: determination, patience, encouragement from others, support groups, positive attitude and health-related information.

Conclusion: Right Hemisphere SSs experience many of the same constraints to family/community integration as other SSs; but additionally are bothered by congitive/perceptual difficulties. Some SSs develop strategies to overcome their stroke-related constraints.

Implications for Nursing: Health care providers need to be sensitized to these stroke-related constraints and take the initiative to offer strategies to help SS's participate more fully in their family/community life.

Back to Family Care Givers
Back to 37th Biennial Convention - Scientific Session
Sigma Theta Tau International