Finding Back to Being Myself Again: Stroke Patients’ Experiences of a Novel Self-Management Intervention during Transition from Hospital to Daily Living at Home

Background: Stroke individuals over the age of 65 belong to an especially vulnerable group with social challenges after leaving the labour market. Change of self-management, especially concerning how to supportively enable stroke individuals’ social re-integration and participation in daily living, lack evidence. This study evaluates the experiences of stroke individuals over 65 and their close relatives’ experiences of receiving self-management support intended to increase self-efficacy during transition from hospital stay to daily living at home.

Methods: Seven interviews with stroke individuals over the age of 65 and close relatives were undertaken. A qualitative phenomenological approach was applied.

Results and Discussion: Four categories emerged from the data analyses: I) mentor supporting finding back to own role again, II) organization and practical issues, III) mentor as mediator and expert and IV) considerations and concerns in having a mentor. The new initiative of organized self-management support was perceived as an overall positive experience. A few concerns were expressed, hereunder finding the right match between mentor and stroke individual. It seems that the interplay between sharing knowledge and link it to action in real life played a big role for the patients.

Conclusion: Self-management support intended to increase self-efficacy during transition from hospital stay to home benefitted stroke individuals over the age of 65. Experience and specific knowledge in the field of neurorehabilitation is found to provide individualized complex support that accomplish the process and needs of each stroke individual and their close relatives while taking concerns to match challenges and personal preferences of the stroke individual and mentor.

Keywords: Stroke, Self-Management, Self-Efficacy, Social Re-Integration, Daily Living.