Recovering is about living my life, as it evolves: perspectives of stroke survivors in remote northwest Queensland

Abstract

Purpose

Recovering from stroke in remote Australia has rarely been considered, even though rehabilitation services are generally scarce. The primary purpose of this study was to explore stroke recovery, from the perspective of stroke survivors in remote northwest Queensland (NWQ), to explicate the lens through which they view recovering. The secondary purpose was to explore the role of technology to support stroke survivors in remote locations along their recovery journey.

Methods

A qualitative study was undertaken using elements of constructivist grounded theory for data collection and analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen stroke survivors and two partners living, working or travelling in remote NWQ.

Results

From the participants’ perspective, recovering in a remote area after stroke is about living my life, as it evolves by endeavouring to recover my way and navigating my recovery in my world. Technology was only considered helpful when it supported participants to recover their way in their world.

Conclusion

Recovering from stroke from the perspective of stroke survivors in remote NWQ is about living their life, as they want it to be, and as it unfolds within their own context. Technology only has a place when it can support them to recover their way in their world. These findings reinforce the importance of health professionals listening, learning about, and enabling stroke survivors along their recovery journey, within their remote context and support network.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Recovering from the perspective of stroke survivors is about living their life as it evolves.

• To support stroke survivors from remote areas, health professionals need to listen to and learn from each stroke survivor about what matters to them, what works for them, and about their world; including the challenges (e.g., switching between services) and enablers (e.g., community support) as the stroke survivor perceives them.

• Finding ways to utilise the strengths within and around them, may improve the recovery process for the stroke survivor in a remote area, ensuring they can access care that meets their needs in their world.

• Working together with stroke survivors, health professionals need to consider how technology could help them to live their life, while recovering their way and in their world.

Keywords:

• Australia
• qualitative
• recovery
• rural and remote
• stroke
• technology

Acknowledgements

The research team would like to thank participants for sharing their stories and inspiring this project. The authors acknowledge Professor Ian Atkinson for his contribution to the study design and supervisory support as Advisor Mentor to SJ during her PhD studies, Catrina Felton-Busch (CFB) for her cultural support and mentoring, Fatima Yaqoot (FY) for her assistance with screening and data collection, the AITHM Cohort Doctoral Studies Program (JCU) for research mentoring, and the assistance provided by many individuals and organisations in advertising and recruiting participants for this study. The project was supported by the College of Healthcare Sciences and Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health (JCU), North and West Remote Health (NWRH), Gidgee Healing, Mount Isa Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Reference Group, North West Hospital and Health Service, and Townsville Hospital and Health Service.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

SJ is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship administered by James Cook University (JCU).