Understanding the Professional Care Experience of Patients with Stroke: A Qualitative Study Using In-Depth Interviews

Professional support and communication stimulates the professional-patient relationship and supports the recovery of stroke patients.

To describe the perspectives of patients with stroke regarding communication, professional support, and their ability to participate in processes and integrated care with health providers.

A qualitative study was conducted. A purposeful sampling and snowball-technique were used. Patients diagnosed with moderate or severe stroke in the post-acute or chronic stage of the disease were included. Data collection consisted of in-depth interviews and researcher field notes. A thematic analysis was performed.

Thirty-one patients were included. Three themes were identified: 1) Providing support, with four categories, professional behavior, personalized attention, the heart of the professional and building a bond with the patient; 2) Facilitating communication, with three categories, the patient as the recipient, the content of the message and the channel, and the professional as the person that conveys the message; and 3) Promoting participation, with two categories, barriers, and incentives to participate.

When providing support, professionals should consider communicating information and encouraging the participation of stroke patients for integrated care.