Predictors of Community Participation Among Individuals With First Stroke: A Thailand Study

To describe perceived participation among persons with first stroke and to identify the predictors based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) concept of participation after stroke.

A total of 121 participants completed 4 questionnaires: the Impact on Participation and Autonomy (IPA), Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ2000), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and personal history. They were evaluated for their balance, motor function, functional and walking ability.

The majority of participants perceived participation restriction in family role as poor to very poor. The best predictors of participation included social support, walking and balance, functional ability, number of secondary health problems and affected side, account for 66.6% of the variances in participation.

The study highlights the importance of social support, walking and balance performance, functional ability in daily living, and number of secondary health problems after stroke. These factors that facilitate participation after stroke should be addressed by health personnel during rehabilitation.