Abstract
Contemporary health care (HC) practices have been extremely important, especially for patients after ischaemic stroke (IS) who have different degrees of disability and co-morbidities. Objective: To analyze the opinion of IS patients hospitalized in specialized clinics/wards regarding the identification of the specific HC needs and optimization of their management in the period of and after discharge. Material and Methods: For achieving the objective, 114 patients were investigated, representing 22.2% of the response, who were hospitalized for treatment and rehabilitation in specialized clinics/wards on the territory of four medical facilities in the town of Pleven. The study required the use of a complex of sociological and statistical methods: a direct anonymous survey was conducted with questions specially prepared for the purpose to study the opinion, feelings, attitudes and evaluations of the respondents on the investigated issues. Results: The greater share of the surveyed patients 83.3% (95), were dependent on care to varying degrees, and 57.9% (66) were definite that care at home should be supervised by a health professional. Home care for 85.1% (97) of the respondents would be provided by close relatives. Over half of the patients surveyed, 60.5% (69), believed that written home care instructions were required. Conclusion: Despite the preference of the ischaemic stroke patients to be cared for by their relatives, they woke up to the need for ritten guidelines, training and supervision from a health professional/nurse regarding their recovery at home.
Publisher
Peytchinski Publishing Ltd.