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The importance of context-a qualitative study exploring healthcare practitioners' experiences of working with patients at home after a stroke

Elf, Marie ; Rasoal, Dara ; Zingmark, Magnus LU orcid and Kylén, Maya LU orcid (2023) In BMC Health Services Research 23.
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Stroke significantly impacts individuals, leading to the need for long-lasting rehabilitation and adaptation to environmental demands. Rehabilitation after stroke is increasingly performed in patients' homes, and it is argued that rehabilitation in this context is more person-centred and positively impacts client outcomes. However, the role of environmental factors in this process is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to explore how multidisciplinary healthcare practitioners working with rehabilitation in the home after stroke consider possibilities and challenges in the environment and how environmental factors are documented in patients' records.

METHODS: Eight multidisciplinary healthcare practitioners... (More)

BACKGROUND: Stroke significantly impacts individuals, leading to the need for long-lasting rehabilitation and adaptation to environmental demands. Rehabilitation after stroke is increasingly performed in patients' homes, and it is argued that rehabilitation in this context is more person-centred and positively impacts client outcomes. However, the role of environmental factors in this process is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to explore how multidisciplinary healthcare practitioners working with rehabilitation in the home after stroke consider possibilities and challenges in the environment and how environmental factors are documented in patients' records.

METHODS: Eight multidisciplinary healthcare practitioners working with home-based rehabilitation after stroke participated in two semistructured focus group sessions. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the transcripts of recorded focus group discussions. Data were also collected from patient history records (N = 14) to identify interventions to increase patients' opportunities to participate in activities inside and outside the home. These records were analysed using life-space mobility as a conceptual framework.

RESULTS: The analysis generated four overarching themes concerning possibilities and challenges in the environment: (1) the image of rehabilitation conflicts with place, (2) the person in the home reveals individual needs and capabilities, (3) environmental characteristics influence the rehabilitation practice, and (4) the person is integrated within a social context. The patient record analysis showed that most patients were discharged from hospital to home within four days. Assessments at the hospital mainly focused on basic activities of daily living, such as the patient's self-care and walking ability. Also at home, the assessments and actions primarily focused on basic activities with little focus on participation in meaningful activities performed in different life situations outside the home.

CONCLUSIONS: Our research suggests that one way to improve practice is to include the environment in the rehabilitation and consider the person´s life space. Interventions should focus on supporting out-of-home mobility and activities as part of person-centred stroke rehabilitation. This must be supported by clear documentation in the patient records to strengthen clinical practice as well as the communication between stakeholders.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Humans, Activities of Daily Living, Stroke/therapy, Stroke Rehabilitation/methods, Qualitative Research, Delivery of Health Care
in
BMC Health Services Research
volume
23
article number
733
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • scopus:85164261156
  • pmid:37415156
ISSN
1472-6963
DOI
10.1186/s12913-023-09735-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2023. The Author(s).
id
114f747d-78da-4e2d-824a-7a0bb6022114
date added to LUP
2023-07-13 10:16:57
date last changed
2024-04-19 23:21:28
@article{114f747d-78da-4e2d-824a-7a0bb6022114,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Stroke significantly impacts individuals, leading to the need for long-lasting rehabilitation and adaptation to environmental demands. Rehabilitation after stroke is increasingly performed in patients' homes, and it is argued that rehabilitation in this context is more person-centred and positively impacts client outcomes. However, the role of environmental factors in this process is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to explore how multidisciplinary healthcare practitioners working with rehabilitation in the home after stroke consider possibilities and challenges in the environment and how environmental factors are documented in patients' records.</p><p>METHODS: Eight multidisciplinary healthcare practitioners working with home-based rehabilitation after stroke participated in two semistructured focus group sessions. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the transcripts of recorded focus group discussions. Data were also collected from patient history records (N = 14) to identify interventions to increase patients' opportunities to participate in activities inside and outside the home. These records were analysed using life-space mobility as a conceptual framework.</p><p>RESULTS: The analysis generated four overarching themes concerning possibilities and challenges in the environment: (1) the image of rehabilitation conflicts with place, (2) the person in the home reveals individual needs and capabilities, (3) environmental characteristics influence the rehabilitation practice, and (4) the person is integrated within a social context. The patient record analysis showed that most patients were discharged from hospital to home within four days. Assessments at the hospital mainly focused on basic activities of daily living, such as the patient's self-care and walking ability. Also at home, the assessments and actions primarily focused on basic activities with little focus on participation in meaningful activities performed in different life situations outside the home.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Our research suggests that one way to improve practice is to include the environment in the rehabilitation and consider the person´s life space. Interventions should focus on supporting out-of-home mobility and activities as part of person-centred stroke rehabilitation. This must be supported by clear documentation in the patient records to strengthen clinical practice as well as the communication between stakeholders.</p>}},
  author       = {{Elf, Marie and Rasoal, Dara and Zingmark, Magnus and Kylén, Maya}},
  issn         = {{1472-6963}},
  keywords     = {{Humans; Activities of Daily Living; Stroke/therapy; Stroke Rehabilitation/methods; Qualitative Research; Delivery of Health Care}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{07}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Health Services Research}},
  title        = {{The importance of context-a qualitative study exploring healthcare practitioners' experiences of working with patients at home after a stroke}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09735-7}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s12913-023-09735-7}},
  volume       = {{23}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}