Veel chronische problemen bij CVA-patiënten thuis

To find out what the late implications of a stroke were for patients and relatives and whether specific requests for help existed.

Design

Cross sectional study.

Setting

Academic Hospital Nijmegen, department of Neurology and Sint Maartenskliniek (rehabilitation centre), the Netherlands.

Method

Patients who had sustained a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in the last five years were asked, using the sickness impact profile (SIP), about their subjective functioning and the effect of the CVA on daily life. They were also asked about the degree to which they experienced their complaints as a problem, and whether they needed help.

Results

In this study 165 patients and their close relatives filled out the SIP. Stroke had a very high impact on everyday functioning as indicated by a total SIP score of 20. The results further showed that psychosocial problems arise independently of the degree of physical problems, that these problems were chronic, and that psychosocial problems hindered 52 of the patients often to always. The physical problems hindered 60 of them often to always. A third of the patients wanted help for their physical problems, a quarter for their psychosocial problems.

Conclusion

The impact of stroke on both patients and their relatives was extensive and appeared chronic. There was need for physical and psychosocial help in a third or quarter of the cases.