Stroke patients' views on their admission to hospital.

OBJECTIVE

To explore which components of care were valued by patients admitted to hospital following a stroke.

DESIGN

Qualitative study using in depth interviews 10 months after the stroke.

SETTING

Two adjacent districts in North Thames Regional Health Authority.

SUBJECTS

82 survivors of stroke taken consecutively from a stroke register, 40 of whom agreed to be interviewed.

RESULTS

Patients reported that during the acute stage of the stroke they wanted to put their faith in experienced and trusted experts who would help them make sense of the event, take all the actions necessary to ensure survival, and provide comfort and human warmth during the crisis. In addition to being reassured by the clinical tests and practical nursing help they received, patients valued feeling cared about by the staff. In most cases patients reported that their needs were met; however, the institutional nature of the hospital sometimes obstructed the fulfillment of their needs.

CONCLUSION

Patients have important psychosocial needs during the acute stage of the stroke, which are often met by hospital admission. Patients gained benefits from their admission over and above those measurable in terms of morbidity or function. They used a combination of criteria to evaluate their care, focusing on the process as well as the outcome of care. Researchers and clinicians should do likewise.