Presenter of 2 Presentations
EXPLORING THE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WHO HAD A STROKE AND THERAPISTS WHO MANAGED PEOPLE WITH STROKE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATORY STUDY
EXPLORING THE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WHO HAD A STROKE AND THERAPISTS WHO MANAGED PEOPLE WITH STROKE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATORY STUDY
Abstract
Background and Aims
The COVID-19 pandemic has been hugely affecting access to the health care system and quality of services for people with stroke. It is important to explore the experiences and issues that patients and providers faced during the pandemic to identify deficits in the system and possible strategies that can be used to tailor stroke care. The aim of this study is to explore experiences of people with stroke, therapists’ experiences, patients’ needs and rehabilitation priorities after their stroke during the pandemic.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews of stroke patients and therapists were conducted. Qualitative data were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach. Each interview was coded and categories were developed by two independent researchers and cross checked by a third researcher.
Results
22 participants (12 therapists and 10 patients) were interviewed. The quantity and quality of care post-stroke were affected by the impact of the pandemic to various extents including lack of care in some cases. There was a variability in the organisational and individual responses to the new changes. Patients needed more support to address their physical and mental health issues. Remote rehabilitation and self-management strategies were facilitated by care teams to deliver care for stroke population. Therapists seemed unsatisfied with the quality of care delivered and suggested that the system should be better prepared to deal with similar situations in the future.
Conclusions
Future research is warranted to examine the efficacy of reducing the time for acute care and remote delivery of rehabilitation for people with mild to moderate impairments post stroke.