The Study of Stroke Impacts on Life Among Stroke Survivors in Urban Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

This descriptive mixed methods with quantitative and in-depth interview qualitative research aimed to examine the impacts of strokes on physical and psychological aspects of patients’ related to the after stroke life phenomenon. The participants were 223 post stroke patients in urban area of Nakhon Ratchasima province. The participants for the qualitative in-depth interviews was 16 participants selected by purposive sampling method. The research instruments were composed of three questionnaires including 1) sociodemographic data, 2) stroke impact scale (Content Validity Index (CVI) values for instrument were 1.0 and the reliability by Alpha Cronbach’s coefficient value was 0.97) and 3) the semi-structured in-depth interview guide regarding post-stroke psychological impacts. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product moments, and            Chi-square tests, and the qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis.

Results: most of the stroke survivors were male, with a mean age of 65.06 years, and the most common pathology was ischemic stroke. Most had a post-stroke duration of 1-5 years, and had weakness on their left side. The demographic data was positively correlated with stroke’s impact including age, duration after stroke, caregiver, present income, body mass index, and diagnosis. The overall impact on stroke scale was at the severe level. The most severe impacts were decreased physical strength and the ability to engage in social activity. Based on the qualitative data, the following six themes of psychological impacts emerged: 1) painful feelings due to being disabled, 2) difficulty with life and no longer wanting to live, 3) being dependent on others, 4) feelings of sadness and depression, 5) awkwardness and anxiety and feeling they are in a limited, lonely world, and 6) uncertainty about their future and not having financial security or someone they could depend on financially. These findings help us to better understand the physical and psychological impacts of stroke on stroke survivors in urban areas, and can be used as fundamental data to further the design proper care to promote their quality of life.