A qualitative study of life after stroke

The purpose of this qualitative, descriptive exploratory study was to enhance understanding about quality of life after a stroke from the patient's own perspective. The guiding theoretical perspective was Parse's human becoming theory. Loosely structured interviews aimed at eliciting descriptions of quality of life were scheduled during the acute care stay and at one and three months after stroke onset. A total of 32 interviews were conducted with 13 participants, including 9 men and 4 women, aged 40-91 years. Through a process of analysis-synthesis, four themes representing participants' descriptions were created: (1) suffering emerges amid unaccustomed restrictions and losses, (2) hopes for endurance mingle with dreams of new possibilities, (3) appreciation of the ordinary shifts perspectives, and (4) consoling relationships uplift the self. When interpreted in light of the human becoming theory, the themes expand understanding of what it is like to live with a stroke and provide insights that may enhance the quality of care.