Psychological and emotional needs, assessment, and support post-stroke: a multi-perspective qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• International guidelines advocate for routine psychological and emotional problem assessment post-stroke.
• Understanding patient, carer, and professional experiences is key to enhancing psychological support.
• Current provision of psychological care post-stroke requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of stroke patients, their carers, and healthcare professionals regarding psychological needs, assessment, and support.
• To identify barriers and facilitators in the delivery and reception of psychological care in stroke services.
• To inform improvements in post-stroke psychological care pathways.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews and focus groups.
• Involved 31 stroke patients, 28 carers, and 66 health professionals from seven specialist stroke services.
• Thematic analysis was used to analyze verbatim interview transcripts.

Main Results:

• A significant theme identified was the 'gap' in psychological expertise among stroke unit staff.
• Healthcare professionals often assumed psychological support roles without adequate training, causing frustration.
• Protective factors like social support and peer interaction were perceived to reduce the need for formal psychological support.

Conclusions:

• Stroke patients require improved access to psychological support, including information and peer networks.
• Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of alternative psychological support strategies.
• Addressing the 'gap' in psychological expertise is essential for effective post-stroke care.