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Enrolling the care‐givers to improve chronic stroke patients' social activity and nutrition ő a randomized controlled trial (1035.5)
Author(s) -
Wang Tzu Chi,
Tsai Alan C,
Wang JiunYi,
Lin Bei Yi,
Chen Jiun Jiang,
Lin KoLong
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.1035.5
Subject(s) - stroke (engine) , physical therapy , randomized controlled trial , medicine , rehabilitation , intervention (counseling) , neurology , berg balance scale , caregiver burden , physical medicine and rehabilitation , gerontology , nursing , disease , psychiatry , dementia , mechanical engineering , engineering
Background and purpose: Most stroke patients have incomplete recovery when return home. We evaluated the possibility of helping the stroke patients return to normal life through improving caregiver’s care capabilities. Methods: We conducted a 12‐week single‐blind randomized controlled trial in 51 chronic stroke patients (>6 months and Brunnstrom Scale III‐V) recruited from the neurology or rehabilitation unit of hospitals in southern Taiwan. Patients and caregivers in the intervention arm (N25) were given private weekly 2‐hour home‐training on care and rehabilitation skills by an independent physical therapist. Subjects (N26) in the control arm received comparable contact without training. All patients were measured with Fugl‐Meyer Motor scale, Return‐to‐Normal Life scale, CES‐D, and Mini Nutritional Assessment at baseline and endpoint. Caregivers were assessed with the Caregiver Burden scale . Results: The intervention improved the Fugl‐Meyer balance score, Return‐to Normal Life index, leisure activity, and nutritional status, but slightly increased caregivers’ burden of isolation. Conclusions: The intervention is effective in improving stroke patients' life participation, nutritional status and return‐to‐normal life score. Application of this program should probably save healthcare costs. Grant Funding Source : Supported by National Science Council of Taiwan