1. Patients' experiences of unilateral spatial neglect between stroke onset and discharge from inpatient rehabilitation
- Author
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Eling D. de Bruin, Rob A. de Bie, Andrea Weise, Martin J Watson, Bernadette C. Tobler-Ammann, Ruud H. Knols, Judith M. Sieben, RS: CAPHRI - R3 - Functioning, Participating and Rehabilitation, Epidemiologie, and Anatomie & Embryologie
- Subjects
Male ,Occupational therapy ,030506 rehabilitation ,medicine.medical_specialty ,unilateral spatial neglect ,Activities of daily living ,medicine.medical_treatment ,VISUAL NEGLECT ,TRAUMATIC BRAIN-INJURY ,616.8: Neurologie und Krankheiten des Nervensystems ,thematic analysis ,LESION SITE ,rehabilitation ,Perceptual Disorders ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Physical medicine and rehabilitation ,SURVIVORS EXPERIENCES ,medicine ,Humans ,awareness ,Stroke ,RIGHT-HEMISPHERE STROKE ,Aged ,Unilateral spatial neglect ,Inpatients ,Rehabilitation ,business.industry ,OF-LIFE ,Stroke Rehabilitation ,Hemispatial neglect ,medicine.disease ,COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT ,Patient Discharge ,HEMISPATIAL NEGLECT ,UPPER-LIMB ,OCCUPATIONAL-THERAPY ,Agnosia ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,Thematic analysis ,0305 other medical science ,business ,activities of daily living ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Qualitative research - Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how stroke patients with unilateral spatial neglect experience; (a) performance in activities of daily living; (b) alterations in bodily perceptions; and (c) personal hopes and expectations, looking at the period between stroke onset and discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Materials and methods: We conducted individual semi-structured interviews with 7 (5 men, 2 women, mean age 69 years) consecutively sampled participants. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: Participants' experiences were captured in three over-arching themes: "unawareness of neglect," "emergent awareness for neglect-related difficulties," and "comparing the new life with the old one." Findings showed that participants progressed from initial unawareness to emergent awareness for their neglect-related difficulties over the course of rehabilitation. Comparing their current life situation with the one before their stroke triggered feelings of uncertainty and regret, with associated decreased pleasure in meaningful activities. Conclusions: This study informs health professionals regarding personal experiences of orientation in and reorganization of life of stroke patients with unilateral spatial neglect. The findings highlight that being aware of neglect-related deficits is a prerequisite for using coping strategies and incorporating them in daily life. Possible therapeutic strategies that fit the current stage of recovery and level of awareness are discussed.
- Published
- 2020