Patients' experience of rehabilitation after stroke

Abstract

In this study patients were interviewed concerning their experience of rehabilitation in an experimental stroke unit. The patients reported positive effects of being together with other stroke patients and used the unit in a self-help group fashion. They felt that they could have used more rehabilitation, even though they were hospitalized for longer than reported in other studies. Patients felt that there were important non-physical problems in connection with their rehabilitation, and that sufficient attention was not given to all of these. Finally patients underlined the positive effects of the rehabilitation process in helping them organize their coming life in the community.

Key Words:

• Stroke unit
• stroke rehabilitation
• patient experience

Additional information

Notes on contributors

S. Mikkelsen

It is with great sadness that we have to inform the readership of the Journal that shortly after completing the final editorial work on this Special Issue, Professor Kalman Jacob Mann was seriously injured in a car accident and subsequently died.

Professor Mann was responsible for establishing the two Hadassah Hospitals and Community Health Centres in Jerusalem and for the past 20 years headed the Presidium of Yad Sarah, Israel's largest community based, volunteer operated organization which provides a spectrum of free or nominal cost home care services nation-wide.

We offer our condolences to his family and friends, and trust that this Special Issue stands as a testament to his work in the field.