Stroke rehabilitation: a family-team education program.

A stroke causes considerable anxiety and practical difficulties to the family of the patient. Additional confusion results because the difference between the acute care and the prolonged rehabilitation is poorly understood. For these reasons, a family-team conference was established at the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Hospital. Its purpose was to relieve anxiety and explain the scientific and professional aspects of the team approach to rehabilitation. The family-team program consisted of role descriptions presented by the representatives from the various disciplines involved in the rehabilitation process and a discussion of individual family-patient problems. Results of a three-year study were used to evaluate the sucess of the conference. Records of family attendance were compared with the number of persons contacted. Questionnaires completed by family members at the conference showed that the anxiety level of individual families had decreased. A better understanding of the team approach was indicated in more than 75% of those participating. More than 70% of the families felt more comfortable in visits to their relatives and in approaching team members with future questions. The family-team program is a practical instrument for expanding stroke rehabilitation and for including the needs and participation of the family.