Predicting the functional independence during the recovery phase for poststroke patients

Successful recovery of stroke survivors can be challenging. However, when targeted functional capacities are predicted early in the recovery phase, necessary nursing intervention can be initiated aiming at supporting the client moving forward in the rehabilitation journey.

This study aimed to evaluate stroke self-efficacy of poststroke patients and identify the differences in stroke self-efficacy level among some relevant variables.

A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed to achieve the aforementioned objectives.

A purposive sample of 207 poststroke patients who were recovering from stroke in three major teaching hospitals at Baghdad city were recruited to participate in the study. Data collection process started 3 November 2016 -15 May 2017. Inclusion criteria embraced stroke patients who were adult, have Glasgow Coma Scale score 14-15, capable of giving written or verbal consent. The modified version of the stroke self-efficacy questionnaire was used for data collection.

A significant statistical difference at the p-value ≤ 0.05 level, in stroke self-efficacy, was verified among subjects' age, residency, stroke incidence and patient's knowledge about his/her stroke medical diagnosis.