PERCEPTION ON SELF-CARE AMONG STROKE PATIENTS IN AN INPATIENT REHABILITATION SETTING: AN EXPLORATORY DESCRIPTIVE QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study is to explore perception on self-care among stroke patients in an inpatient rehabilitation setting. Background: Self-care education is an integral part of a discharge plan for stroke patients where it could possibly mitigate subsequent and frequent readmissions as well as avert recurrent stroke episodes. Despite the apparent benefits of stroke selfcare, there are still evidences of stroke re-admissions. The difficulty in providing and receiving stroke self-care education are most often deliberated in existing literature, however, stroke patients’ perception on self-care are insufficiently discussed and inadequately holistic. Methods: An exploratory descriptive qualitative approach was adopted. Purposeful sampling method was used and data saturation was reached with twenty stroke rehabilitation patients in a local acute healthcare institution. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted from August 2018 to November 2018. Thematic data analysis was applied to identify and categorise findings into common themes. Findings: Six main themes and fifteen sub-themes surfaced from this study. The six main themes were: (a) Doing It Yourself, (b) Getting Physical, (c) Emotions into Motion, (d) The Spiritual Journey, (e) Quality Social Engagements and (f) Financial Affairs that Matter. Conclusion: This study provided the capacity to delve into and understand stroke patients’ holistic perception on self-care- physical, emotional, spiritual, social and financial, in an attempt to improve patient care. Implications: This study creates opportunities for the existing healthcare system to venture into crafting and implementing a new and improved holistic discharge framework, by placing emphasis on all five aspects of self-care. This is to ensure that patients are comprehensively prepared to be reintegrated back into their society upon discharge. This study also serves as a primary indication for future studies to delve into perception on self-care among other stakeholders and also in other healthcare settings.