Quality of life among post-stroke Jordanian survivors: a prospective study

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to assess the quality of life (QOL) and the related factors in patients post-stroke in Jordan. Design/methodology/approach Prospective, the cross-sectional study recruited 100 participants with stroke from three public hospitals from December 1, 2021 to February 1, 2022. Patients with stroke were interviewed to fill the stroke-specific quality of life questionnaire. Findings Forty-five per cent of the participants were male. More than half of the participants (53%) were married, and the average age of the participants was 63.6 (SD =3.8). Most of the participants had an ischemic stroke (86%) with an affected left side (65%). The overall QOL of the participants was leveling at (M = 123.5, SD = 45.2), which is a moderate level. It was found statistical significance differences among participants according to gender, type of stroke, affected side and presence of comorbidities (Table 1). Research limitations/implications There were some limitations in this study. First, this study was based on mild to moderate Jordanian stroke survivors and did not include critically ill stroke survivors; the QOL critically ill stroke survivors may differ, which could affect the generalizability of data among all stroke survivors. Second, this study is prospective, and this type of study is prone to bias that could influence the reliability of the results. It is recommended to conduct a mixed-method study to reveal an in-depth understanding of the associated factors with QOL, to ensure reliability and to reflect a better view of the Jordanian population. Practical implications To sum up, there is a reduction in the level of QOL among stroke survivors; hence, it is crucial to focus on detecting factors contributing to reducing the QOL and taking individual differences between sexes, type and location of the stroke, and comorbidities into consideration to develop a treatment plan that enhances the QOL and well-being for survivors of stroke. Social implications Taking individual differences between sexes, type and location of the stroke and comorbidities into consideration to develop a treatment plan that enhances the QOL and well-being of survivors of stroke. Originality/value The findings of this study bring a strong insight toward assessing the main factors indicating a decrease QOL among stroke survivors.