Open AccessThe Caregiver Experience After Stroke in a COVID-19 Environment: A Qualitative Study in Inpatient Rehabilitation
Author(s) -
Rachel Sutter-Leve,
Emily Passint,
Debra L. Ness,
Aaron Rindflesch
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of neurologic physical therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.046
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1557-0584
pISSN - 1557-0576
DOI - 10.1097/npt.0000000000000336
Subject(s) - visitor pattern , caregiver stress , thematic analysis , coping (psychology) , rehabilitation , social distance , qualitative research , pandemic , psychology , caregiver burden , attendance , medicine , stroke (engine) , mental health , family caregivers , social support , distancing , nursing , covid-19 , clinical psychology , disease , psychiatry , physical therapy , dementia , psychotherapist , infectious disease (medical specialty) , social science , economic growth , pathology , sociology , computer science , engineering , programming language , mechanical engineering , economics
Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Two-thirds of stroke survivors will require caregiver assistance. Evidence suggests the mental health of caregivers is closely related to patients' health outcomes. The timing of this study intersected with the beginning of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that required strict social distancing and hospital visitor policy changes. This study aims to answer the primary research question: What is the level and nature of stress experienced by caregivers of persons with newly-acquired stroke in the inpatient rehabilitation setting and how has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the caregiver experience?