Christensen Erin R, Golden Shannon L, Gesell Sabina B
graduate student, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
senior research associate, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
N C Med J. 2019 May-Jun;80(3):143-148. doi: 10.18043/ncm.80.3.143.
Significant geographical disparities exist in stroke prevalence among southeastern states, including North Carolina. Additionally, stroke is more prevalent in rural areas. Peer support groups play an important role in stroke recovery by providing tools for effective coping, alleviating psychological stress, and creating an outlet for stroke survivors and caregivers. However, their perceived benefits have not been clearly defined for rural stroke survivors and their families. This qualitative study describes the experiences of survivors and caregivers in rural North Carolina who have participated in stroke peer support groups. Four focus groups were conducted with 32 participants (average age 67 years, 72% female) in 4 rural North Carolina counties, using a semi-structured discussion guide and an inductive coding approach. Thematic analysis revealed that participants in rural support groups seek and receive knowledge from their support groups and feel empowered by providing and receiving this knowledge. Shared experiences cultivate a sense of community, and participants viewed support outside of the support group as necessary to their recovery process. This study reflects the views of a small group of predominantly non-Hispanic, white stroke survivors and caregivers who voluntarily participated. We did not conduct separate focus groups with survivors and caregivers. Peer support groups are a sparse, but critical resource for rural stroke survivors and caregivers because they provide information and community that can assist with recovery to health and independence.
在包括北卡罗来纳州在内的东南部各州，中风患病率存在显著的地域差异。此外，农村地区的中风患病率更高。同伴支持小组通过提供有效应对的工具、减轻心理压力以及为中风幸存者和护理人员创造一个宣泄渠道，在中风康复中发挥着重要作用。然而，对于农村中风幸存者及其家人而言，同伴支持小组的实际益处尚未得到明确界定。这项定性研究描述了北卡罗来纳州农村地区参与中风同伴支持小组的幸存者和护理人员的经历。在北卡罗来纳州的4个农村县，对32名参与者（平均年龄67岁，72%为女性）进行了4次焦点小组访谈，采用半结构化讨论指南和归纳编码方法。主题分析表明，农村支持小组的参与者从他们的支持小组中寻求并获得知识，并通过提供和接受这些知识而感到有力量。共同的经历培养了一种社区感，参与者认为支持小组之外的支持对他们的康复过程是必要的。这项研究反映了一小群主要为非西班牙裔白人的中风幸存者和护理人员的观点，他们是自愿参与研究的。我们没有分别对幸存者和护理人员进行焦点小组访谈。同伴支持小组对于农村中风幸存者和护理人员来说是一种稀缺但至关重要的资源，因为它们提供了有助于恢复健康和独立的信息和社区。
