Repatterning of stroke rehabilitation clients following return to life in the community

The purpose of this study was to learn more about problems stroke patients experience after rehabilitation and how they perceive and interact with their environment. Findings indicate that nurses need to consider individual life patterns, current goals and the resources and impediments of the home and community environment in planning interventions. Subjects wanted a challenging but not overly stressful environment. Most of their energy was consumed with accomplishing the activities of daily living. Complex planning and timing were necessary to continue a few pleasurable activities. Advocates are needed for better design and accessibility in the environment of our aging population, with increasing numbers of chronically ill and disabled, and for all people.     

Virtual reality-augmented rehabilitation for patients following stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent evidence indicates that intensive massed practice may be necessary to modify neural organization and effect recovery of motor skills in patients following stroke. Virtual reality (VR) technology has the capability of creating an interactive, motivating environment in which practice intensity and feedback can be manipulated to create individualized treatments to retrain movement. CASE DESCRIPTION: Three patients (ML, LE, and DK), who were in the chronic phase following stroke, participated in a 2-week training program (3 1/2 hours a day) including dexterity tasks on real objects and VR exercises. The VR simulations were targeted for range of motion, movement speed, fractionation, and force production. OUTCOMES: ML's function was the most impaired at the beginning of the intervention, but showed improvement in the thumb and fingers in range of motion and speed of movement. LE improved in fractionation and range of motion of his thumb and fingers. DK made the greatest gains, showing improvement in range of motion and strength of the thumb, velocity of the thumb and fingers, and fractionation. Two of the 3 patients improved on the Jebsen Test of Hand Function. DISCUSSION: The outcomes suggest that VR may be useful to augment rehabilitation of the upper limb in patients in the chronic phase following stroke.     

Assessment chart for inpatient rehabilitation following stroke

In order to enable comparison of the post-stroke patient's functional status between different points during the rehabilitation process, an assessment chart was developed; this covered cognitive, basic and integrated functions. The chart was applied by two independent examiners on 36 patients, with a mean age of 60, admitted consecutively for rehabilitation following stroke. The results of the assessment using the chart were compared with those measured with the Kenny Self Evaluation System. There was a positive correlation both between the Kenny System and the developed chart and the two examiners. It is felt that the chart meets the demands of easy applicability, numerical scoring and comprehensiveness. It is sufficiently sensitive to reflect the progress of patients during rehabilitation and enables re-evaluation of initial treatment plans focusing on the needs of the individual patient. The developed chart may serve as a useful tool in the evaluation of stroke inpatients during their rehabilitation.     

External validation of prehospital stroke scales for emergent large vessel occlusion

BackgroundIt is suggested that a prehospital scale should be utilized to identify patients with emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO). We aimed to perform external validation of nine ELVO scales.MethodsThis single center retrospective observational study included patients with ischemic stroke visiting the emergency department (ED) within 6 h of symptom onset. Participants were excluded if individual items of the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scores were not recorded or they did not receive brain computed tomography angiography or magnetic resonance imaging before intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular thrombectomy, and within 24 h of ED admission. The first definition of ELVO was emergent occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and middle cerebral artery segment 1 (M1). The second definition was emergent occlusion of ICA, M1, basilar artery, middle cerebral artery segment 2, anterior cerebral artery segment 1, and posterior cerebral artery segment 1. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was constructed to examine discrimination. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the nine scales under the two ELVO definitions were calculated.ResultsA total of 1231 patients were included in the study. No significant differences were observed in the AUROC under the two ELVO definitions. However, sensitivity values of these scales were largely different, ranging from 44.56% to 93.68% under the first ELVO definition. The sensitivity values among scales were also different under the second ELVO definition.ConclusionStakeholders in the community should choose suitable scales according to their own system conditions.     

Chinese elderly patients' perceptions of their rehabilitation needs following a stroke

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability among Chinese elderly patients in Hong Kong and yet the rehabilitation needs of these patients are rarely explored. The aim of this study was to identify the rehabilitation needs of Chinese elderly patients following a stroke. The study adopted an ethnographic approach, information being gathered by the researcher through interviews with 15 key informants selected by purposive sampling. The perceptions of patients as to their own needs were sought at three stages of recovery - in the acute and rehabilitation settings and at 1 month following discharge. Ethical approval was gained from the Chinese University Faculty of Medicine ethical committee and access agreed by the hospital authorities. Verbal approval was gained from the patients before each interview, following confirmation of the voluntary nature of participation and assurance of confidentiality and anonymity. The researcher's role was also clearly stated. Analysis of the interview data produced five categories of patient need at the three stages of recovery, namely informational, physical, psychological, social and spiritual. The most frequently stated, but largely unmet, need in all settings was the need for information, particularly information about the reasons for stroke and about the activities that promote recovery. In the acute and rehabilitation settings patients' responses indicated a need to be respected as individuals, to be addressed by name and to be provided with privacy. Although the Barthel Index administered during interviews charted recovery at different rates, nurses did not always make links between the level of functional ability and the help needed with physical tasks. They also failed to recognize the relationship between physical and psychological needs and the equal importance of both in recovery from stroke. As Chinese elderly patients tend to take a passive role in seeking help and information, nurses play a significant role in the identification of individual rehabilitation needs. Implications for nursing practice are discussed.     

影响脑卒中吞咽障碍康复的相关因素分析

目的：探讨影响脑卒中吞咽障碍患者康复的相关因素。方法：对84例脑卒中吞咽障碍患者进行基础训练和摄食训练，以4周时吞咽障碍严重程度分级变化作为疗效评价指标，并分为2组：预后良好组和预后不良组。对影响吞咽障碍康复疗效的因素进行多元Logistic回归分析。结果：吞咽康复预后良好者占77．38％（65／84）。单因素分析显示，吞咽功能障碍严重程度、合并慢支感染、认知障碍、视听觉障碍、是否合作、康复介入时间、感觉性失语7个因素为影响吞咽障碍康复疗效的危险因素。多因素Logistic回归表明，康复介入时间、吞咽障碍严重程度分级、认知障碍、视听觉障碍是影响吞咽康复的独立危险因素。结论：康复医师和治疗师应对患者的情况进行全面客观的评价，制订科学合理的康复措施和判断预后。     

营养状况对急性脑卒中康复影响研究作用

目的探讨急性脑卒中后营养状况的变化、营养状况对急性脑卒中康复的影响和影响卒中后营养状况恶化的可能原因。方法收集临床住院的急性脑卒中132例。动态观察测定神经功能缺损评分、营养学指标及延髓麻痹和感染性并发症持续的时间。应用统计学相关方差分析,寻找它们之间的相关性。结果(1)神经功能缺损恢复程度不仅与入院时的营养状况相关,而且与住院期间营养状况恶化的程度更为相关。(2)卒中发生后营养状况呈恶化趋势。(3)卒中后营养状况恶化的程度与吞咽困难和感染性并发症持续的时间长短相关。结论(1)卒中后患者营养状况呈恶化趋势,恶化程度与神经功能恢复程度呈负相关。(2)营养状况恶化的原因是营养成分摄入减少和机体卒中后的高代谢。     

脑卒中后神经康复治疗机制的研究进展

脑卒中后的神经功能缺损有不同程度的自行改善,残存脑组织的可塑性起重要作用。脑损伤后在结构或功能上有重新组织的能力以担任失去的功能,应用正电子发射断层扫描,功能磁共振,经颅刺激和脑磁图的研究都支持卒中后功能重组的概念。由于脑的两半球之间有紧密的联系使脑具有双侧支配的特征,以及神经元之间的广泛突触联系使脑可塑性具有有力的物质形态学基础。近年来促进神经功能恢复治疗方法的机制研究有许多进展,对此进行探讨,可望得出能使患者功能恢复达到理想程度的有价值的建议。     

A quasi-experimental study on a community-based stroke prevention programme for clients with minor stroke

Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a community‐based stroke prevention programme in (1) improving knowledge about stroke; (2) improving self‐health‐monitoring practice; (3) maintaining behavioural changes when adopting a healthy lifestyle for stroke prevention. Background. People with minor stroke (or transient ischaemic attack) tend to under‐estimate the long‐term impact of this on their health. The challenge for nurses is to prevent subsequent strokes by finding ways to promote and sustain appropriate behaviours. Educational intervention is of paramount importance in equipping those at risk with relevant knowledge and self‐care strategies for secondary stroke prevention. Design. This study adopted a quasi‐experimental design. Method. One hundred and ninety subjects were recruited, of whom 147 (77 in the intervention group and 70 in the control group) completed the study. Data were obtained at three time points: baseline (T₀); one week after (T₁) and three months after (T₂) the intervention. The intervention programme consisted of eight weekly two‐hour sessions, with the aims of improving the participants’ awareness of their own health signals and of actively involving them in self‐care management of their own health for secondary stroke prevention. Results. Significant positive changes were found among participants of the intervention group in the knowledge on stroke warning signs (P < 0·001); treatment seeking response in case of a stroke (P < 0·001); medication compliance (P < 0·001); self blood pressure monitoring (P < 0·001) as well as lifestyle modification of dietary habits (reduction in salted food intake, P = 0·004). No significant improvement was found in walking exercise participation in the intervention group, yet a significant decrease was detected among the control group. Conclusion. This study found a three‐month‐sustained effect of positive changes in knowledge and skill from participants who undertook a nurse‐led community‐based stroke prevention programme. Relevance to clinical practice: Effective educational intervention by professional nurses helped clients integrate their learned knowledge into their real‐life practice. This empowering, that is, the taking of responsibility by clients for their own self‐care management on a daily basis, affirms that patient education has moved beyond teaching people facts.     

Functional recovery following rehabilitation after hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke

OBJECTIVES: To quantify recovery after rehabilitation therapy and to identify factors that predicted functional outcome in survivors of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) compared with cerebral infarction. DESIGN: Retrospective study of consecutive ICH and cerebral infarction admissions to a rehabilitation hospital over a 4-year period. SETTING: Free-standing urban rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1064 cases met the inclusion criteria (545 women, 519 men; 871 with cerebral infarction, 193 with ICH). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.Main Outcome Measures: Functional status was measured using the FIM trade mark instrument, recorded at admission and discharge. Recovery was quantified by the change in FIM total score (DeltaFIM total score). Outcome measures were total discharge FIM score and DeltaFIM total score. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Total admission FIM score was higher in patients with cerebral infarction than in patients with ICH (59 vs 51, P=.0001). No difference in total discharge FIM score was present. Patients with ICH made a significantly greater recovery than those with cerebral infarction (DeltaFIM total score, 28 vs 23.3; P=.002). On multivariate analysis, younger age, longer length of stay, and admission FIM cognitive subscore independently predicted total discharge FIM and DeltaFIM total score. The severity of disability at admission, indicated by total admission FIM score, independently predicted total discharge FIM score, but not DeltaFIM total score. The ICH patients with the most severely disabling strokes had significantly greater recovery than cerebral infarction patients with stroke of similar severity. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with ICH had greater functional impairment than the cerebral infarction patients at admission, but made greater gains. Patients with the most severely disabling ICH improved more than those with cerebral infarction of comparable severity. Initial severity of disability, age, and duration of therapy best predicted functional outcome after rehabilitation.