A qualitative study exploring patients', with mild to moderate stroke, and their carers' perceptions of healthy lifestyles

Abstract

Background/Aims: To explore patients', with mild to moderate stroke, and their carers' experiences after a stroke and to explore their perceptions of healthy lifestyles. Methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was undertaken with 20 people (12 males and 8 females) with mild to moderate stroke or transient ischaemic attack (1 week to 6 months' post event) and seven of their carers. Each interview was transcribed and a thematic analysis approach guided the analytic process. Results: Patients with sub-acute, mild to moderate stroke were positive about healthy lifestyles and their ability to achieve them post stroke. Three core themes were identified: perceptions related to exercise; perceptions related to other lifestyle factors; and understanding of stroke and healthy lifestyles. Conclusions: In the sub-acute phase of stroke recovery, barriers to exercise such as lack of motivation do not appear to be an issue. People with stroke have a lack of understanding of healthy guidelines, risk factors and cause of their stroke. It is not clear if this is due to a lack of information provision or a lack of recall. They also do not appear to make the link between lifestyle choices and the cause of their stroke.

Development of strategies to support home-based exercise adherence after stroke: a Delphi consensus

“…Adherence is affected by multiple factors such as age, self-efficacy, caregiver support, previous exercise behaviour, the severity of stroke and stages of stroke recovery. 18–20 43 44 Therefore, the framework of strategies provides the opportunity to individualise the strategies based on each person’s impairments, recovery, the severity of stroke and available support system. The exercises can be tailored depending on the abilities and context of each person.…”

“…[15][16][17] Other factors that impact adherence include pain, fear of falls and poststroke fatigue. 18 19 In addition, environmental factors such as cost, accessibility and transport are other barriers for people with chronic…”

“… 15–17 Other factors that impact adherence include pain, fear of falls and poststroke fatigue. 18 19 In addition, environmental factors such as cost, accessibility and transport are other barriers for people with chronic stroke. Thus, developing effective strategies that reinforce adherence to home-based exercises is important.…”

Users’ experience of community-based power assisted exercise: a transition from NHS to third sector services

“…Challenges associated with timely and effective provision of information to PwS have been widely documented (Clague-Baker et al, 2017;O'Connell et al, 2009). The findings of this study indicate that the participants could not recall receiving advice on lifestyle, exercise or continued support services, and were in congruence with previous qualitative findings which found that people felt that there was nowhere else to go (Schouten et al, 2011).…”

Does cardiac rehabilitation for people with stroke in the sub-acute phase of recovery lead to physical behaviour change? Results from compositional analysis of accelerometry-derived data

“…Moreover, despite achieving a greater proportion of 'good responders' (more MVPA at the expense of being sedentary) compared to individuals with COPD attending pulmonary rehabilitation [32], this was observed for fewer than half the present study participants. People post-stroke in the sub-acute phase do not report motivation as a barrier to being physically active [34], unlike individuals in the later stages of stroke recovery [35]. However, physical barriers experienced by individuals with stroke in the sub-acute phase of recovery may limit their ability to translate this motivation into action; with individuals reporting pain, previous falls and fatigue as important barriers to an active lifestyle [34].…”