Challenges faced by acute stroke survival patients, attending neurology OPD of a selected hospital in Kolkata

Abstract

Background:Stroke is a leading cause of mortality & disability worldwide.  Despite the remarkable progression in the treatment of stroke, the life quality, psychological & social events caused by stroke received limited attentions. Objective:This study was conducted to identify challenges faced by acute stroke survival patients at neurology OPD of a selected hospital in Kolkata.Methods:A descriptive survey design was applied and total 104 acute (within 3 months following stroke) stroke survival patients were selected by non-probability purposive sampling technique. Socio-demographic characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire and semi-structured interview schedule was used to identify the challenges faced by acute stroke survival patients.Challenges were assessed in five domains that is physical, psychological, interpersonal, social & financial domain.Results: It was identified from the study findings that 17% of acute stroke survival patients faced mild challenges, 66% patients faced moderate challenges and 16% faced severe challenges following stroke.The study findings also reflects that 100% of acute stroke survival patients face challenges in physical domain and in in physical domain score ranges from 13-40 with a mean of 28.2 and mean percentage of 70.5 which ranked as 1stand the interpersonal domain which range from 4-18 with a mean of 8.4 and mean percentage of 42 ranked as 5th challenge.There is no association between challenges with socio-demographic characteristics. Conclusion:Ultimately identifying the challenges of those patients will provide some information which will help the nurses to counsel the patient so that they can overcome the challenges. Keywords: - Challenges, acute stroke survival patients, neurology OPD.