Independent living rehabilitation needs of postdischarge stroke persons: a pilot study.

The responses of 73 poststroke persons to a rehabilitation needs scale were analyzed. Forty-two of the respondents were married, and their spouses were interviewed separately. Four null hypothesis were tested: (1) Postdischarge stroke persons would not perceive themselves as still having rehabilitation needs. (2) The more frequent need statements would not be psychosocial in nature. (3) The frequency of need statements made by married stroke persons would not be different from single stroke persons. (4) Married stroke persons and their spouses would not be different in need statements made. Null hypotheses 1 through 3 were rejected at the P less than 0.01 level, but hypothesis 4 was not rejected. The sample stroke population perceived themselves as still having rehabilitation needs, and stroke patients or their spouses could be used as informants about rehabilitation needs. Single and married stroke persons emphasized different needs, particularly in the area of vocational rehabilitation. This statistically significant different (P less than 0.001) may stem from a dramatic discrepancy in income levels. The average income monthly for single stroke persons was $369, while the average income monthly of married stroke persons was $1120.