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- Franzén-Dahlin, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of a support and education programme for spouses of people affected by stroke
- 2008
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Ingår i: Clinical Rehabilitation. - : SAGE Publications. - 0269-2155 .- 1477-0873. ; 22:8, s. 722-30
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a nurse-led support and education programme for spouses of patients affected by stroke improved the psychological health of the spouses.DESIGN: A longitudinal, open, randomized controlled trial.SAMPLE: One hundred spouses of stroke patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention or a control group.SETTING: The study was conducted in a hospital setting.INTERVENTION: The intervention consisted of six group meetings during six months, with a follow-up after further six months. Comparison between the intervention and the control groups was made at baseline, after six and 12 months using analysis with repeated measures.MAIN MEASURES: The Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale--Self-Affective for psychological health.RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the intervention and control groups concerning overall psychological health. However, a subanalysis revealed that those who participated more frequently in the group meetings (five or six times) had significantly stronger psychological health (P<0.05). Knowledge about stroke increased over time in both groups, but participants in the intervention group learned more (P=0.041).CONCLUSION: Encouraging participation in the group meetings of a support programme might have a positive effect on psychological health.
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| 2. |
- Franzén-Dahlin, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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Predictors of life situation among significant others of depressed or aphasic stroke patients
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Nursing. - : Wiley. - 0962-1067 .- 1365-2702. ; 17:12, s. 1574-1580
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIM: The aim of this study was to examine predictors of the life situation of the significant other of depressed or aphasic stroke patients.BACKGROUND: Depression and aphasia are common consequences of stroke, and both may put pressure on the significant other who have to deal not only with a possible physical handicap but also with communication and/or serious psychiatric difficulties.DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study.METHODS: The participants were significant others of 71 depressed and 77 aphasic stroke patients. Depression was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, and degree of aphasia was diagnosed with the Amsterdam Nijmegen Everyday Language Test. Assessments of the life situation, state of depression and aggression, personality change and need of assistance were made through questionnaires issued to the significant others.RESULTS: Perceived need of assistance was the only common predictor of life situation of the significant other in both groups (p < 0.001). With respect to the aphasic patients, perceived personality change (p < 0.001) and living with the patient (p = 0.004) were factors that had a negative effect on the life situation of the significant other.CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that the perception of the patient's need of assistance is an important factor in predicting the life situation among spouses of depressed as well as aphasic stroke patients. A comparison of the two groups to explain the life situation of the significant others revealed greater explanatory power for the aphasic group.RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Assessments of the spouses' perception as well as of the patients' factual situation may identify those significant others at risk. With this new approach, necessary steps may be taken to alleviate pressure on the significant other.
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