Development and evaluation of a family-based graphical tool for longitudinal monitoring of poststroke sequelae

Medical information regarding patient health is traditionally managed by healthcare professionals, often leaving patients and families in a passive role during the recovery process.

To describe and evaluate a family-based functional graphic tool-the Family Observation of Limits and Learning on Well-being (FOLLOW)-designed for the monthly assessment of post-stroke sequelae by nonprofessionals.

The tool is a color-coded visual graphic (red for no improvement, yellow for stability, and green for improvement) designed for intuitive understanding without specialized training. It evaluates seven domains: motor independence, sleep patterns, cognition and language, family quality of life, patient quality of life, fatigue, and emotional state. This study included 51 patients and assessed the usability and proficiency evaluation among three groups: family caregivers, healthcare professionals, and poststroke individuals.

Significant differences were observed in the proficiency of completing the tool across the groups. Success rates were 94.1% for family caregivers and 100.0% for healthcare professionals, compared with 69.2% for poststroke individuals (p = 0.008). The graphic proved to be easily interpretable for both caregivers and professionals.

The functional graphic is an effective tool when completed by family members or caregivers, though it is less reliable when completed by patients themselves. It provides a practical, longitudinal overview of the patient's home environment and clinical needs, while also serving as a complementary monitoring aid that enables early identification of complications and facilitating prompt intervention.