Assessing adherence in stroke victims.

A stroke rehabilitation unit or designated hospital beds for the purpose of implementing a stroke rehabilitation program is an effective way to achieve patient compliance. The program should be structured to support the fact that most patients recover most of their spontaneous improvement of brain and motor function by the time they are discharged from the hospital. The overall goal of the program is to provide a consistent rehabilitative approach to improve and maintain patient compliance with a prescribed regimen. Patient compliance is directly related to the patient's perception and knowledge of the disease, his physical condition, and the prescribed therapy. It is important that the program address itself to these three areas. Key activities that enhance the stroke patient's compliance include education of the patient and patient contracting. The stroke rehabilitation program is also evaluated in terms of satisfaction of the patient and the staff. The preservation, promotion, and restoration of health are the rights of every stroke patient. The scope of rehabilitation will continue to reflect the need for developing alternative methods of assisting patients in restructuring their patterns of living. The development of a stroke rehabilitation unit is a step in that direction.