|
|
A qualitative study of specialist nurse support for stroke patients and care-givers at home
G. Dowswell
Department of Applied Social Studies, University of Bradford
J. Lawler
Department of Applied Social Studies, University of Bradford
J. Young
A Forster St Luke's Hospital, Bradford
A. Forster
A Forster St Luke's Hospital, Bradford
J. Hearn
Faculty of Economic and Social Studies, University of Manchester, Manchester
Background: The involvement of five specialist nurses in providing a stroke support service was evaluated quantitatively in a recent randomized controlled trial. This complementary study used qualitative methods to evaluate trial outcomes more comprehensively.
Aims: To identify whether the nurses' intervention may have influenced the process of stroke recovery.
Method: A purposefully selected subsample of 30 patients and 15 care-givers were interviewed within 1-3 months of their final quantitative assessment (12 months after recruitment to the randomized trial). Fifteen of the patients and eight of the care-givers had received visits from a specialist nurse. A semi- structured interview was designed to include questions on perceptions of the recovery process and evaluation of services received.
Results: Some differences were evident between the accounts of control and intervention group subjects. The less tangible aspects of nurses' interventions - concern, attention, empathy and interest, when combined with sound professional knowledge, had identifiable value to the patients and care-givers. It appeared that the nurses had employed considerable sensitivity and skill in identifying and responding to particular needs at appropriate times.
Conclusion: The qualitative evaluation offers a different picture to the quantitative results of the randomized controlled trial. In general, the findings of the qualitative study are more positive and encouraging than the quantitative results. The majority of patients and care-givers in the intervention group believed that they had benefited from the specialist nurse's visits.
Clinical Rehabilitation, Vol. 11, No. 4,
293-301 (1997)
DOI: 10.1177/026921559701100405
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
J. Redfern, C. McKevitt, and C. D.A. Wolfe
Development of Complex Interventions in Stroke Care: A Systematic Review
Stroke,
September 1, 2006;
37(9):
2410 - 2419.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. H.L. Lui, F. M. Ross, and D. R. Thompson
Supporting Family Caregivers in Stroke Care: A Review of the Evidence for Problem Solving
Stroke,
November 1, 2005;
36(11):
2514 - 2522.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. McKevitt, J. Redfern, F. Mold, and C. Wolfe
Qualitative Studies of Stroke: A Systematic Review
Stroke,
June 1, 2004;
35(6):
1499 - 1505.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Boter, G. J. Rinkel, and R. J de Haan
Outreach nurse support after stroke: a descriptive study on patients' and carers' needs, and applied nursing interventions
Clinical Rehabilitation,
February 1, 2004;
18(2):
156 - 163.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K Daneski, C Coshall, K Tillingand, and C D A Wolfe
Reliability and validity of a postal version of the Reintegration to Normal Living Index, modified for use with stroke patients
Clinical Rehabilitation,
August 1, 2003;
17(8):
835 - 839.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. A Lilley, N. B Lincoln, and V. M Francis
A qualitative study of stroke patients' and carers' perceptions of the stroke family support organizer service
Clinical Rehabilitation,
May 1, 2003;
17(5):
540 - 547.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Hearn, J. Lawler, and G. Dowswell
Qualitative Evaluations, Combined Methods and Key Challenges: General Lessons from the Qualitative Evaluation of Community Intervention in Stroke Rehabilitation
Evaluation,
January 1, 2003;
9(1):
30 - 54.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M McKinney, H Blake, K A Treece, N B Lincoln, E D Playfordand, and J R. Gladman
Evaluation of cognitive assessment in stroke rehabilitation
Clinical Rehabilitation,
February 1, 2002;
16(2):
129 - 136.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. M Kerr and L. N Smith
Stroke: an exploration of the experience of informal caregiving
Clinical Rehabilitation,
April 1, 2001;
15(4):
428 - 436.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Dowswell, J. Lawler, and J. Young
Unpacking the 'black box' of a nurse-led stroke support service
Clinical Rehabilitation,
February 1, 2000;
14(2):
160 - 171.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Rodgers, C. Atkinson, S. Bond, M. Suddes, R. Dobson, and R. Curless
Randomized Controlled Trial of a Comprehensive Stroke Education Program for Patients and Caregivers
Stroke,
December 1, 1999;
30(12):
2585 - 2591.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
