POST-STROKE FATIGUE u2013 CLIENTSu00b4 PERSPECTIVE ON NATURE-BASED REHABILITATION

Background: It is estimated that up-to 75% of individuals suffer from fatigue after stroke. Post-stroke-fatigue contributes to disability and reduced quality of life. Currently, there is neither sufficient evidence on the efficacy of any intervention for post-stroke fatigue nor how the patients perceive the interventions. The objective of the study was to examine the clientsu00b4 experience of post-stroke nature-based rehabilitation (Clinical Trial.gov Identifier: NCT02435043). Method: An interview was conducted included 27 informants, who voluntary participated in a semi-structured interview. The informants were identified among those who participated in a two-armed randomized controlled prospective trial, with 101 individuals included thereof 51 were randomized to the nature-based intervention. The intervention was performed in enriched garden environment, supported by a multimodal rehabilitation team. The intervention was performed as a group therapy of eight persons, lasting for ten weeks, two days/week, each day session lasting three and a half hours. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed according to Interpretive Phenomenological Analyses. The study was approved by the regional ethical committee in Lunds (Dnr 2012/352)Results: Two subordinate themes emerged 1) Salutogenic environment supporting mental recovery, with the subthemes a) tranquility, b) permissiveness and 2) Fascination as a motivation for physical activities, with the subthemes a) free play and b) exploration. The results indicate that nature-based rehabilitation can promote both perceived fatigue recovery and promote engagement in physical activities otherwise not undertaken.Conclusions: The results highlight important aspects on how nature can support the recovery of post-stroke fatigue and how these can be implemented into healthcare and so further develop successful rehabilitation programs.