The lived experiences of stroke survivors : an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

Background: Stroke happens when there is an interruption in the blood supply to the brain. Each year around 15 million individuals suffer from a stroke. Most stroke survivors undergo in-patient rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is the period where stroke survivors undergo therapeutic sessions to encourage stroke survivor restore the lost abilities. Stroke can affect the individual’s personality, diminish life satisfaction, and create psychological issues. Aim: This study aimed to explore the lived experience of stroke survivors and their coping methods during their in-patient rehabilitation. Research Design: This study opted for a qualitative research design using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach. Setting: Interviews were done at a local rehabilitation hospital. Participants: A purposive sample of five (three males and two females) participants diagnosed with stroke undergoing in-patient rehabilitation at the rehabilitation hospital. Method: Data was collected via semi-structured in-depth interviews that were held three times for each participant during their in-patient hospital stay. All 15 interviews were audio taped, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. All ethical issues were considered to safeguard the privacy of the participants. Findings: Three super-ordinate themes represented the stroke survivor’s lived experiences emerged from the data collected: The initial shock, feeling out of control and Coping through rehabilitation. The findings demonstrated that this lived experience was a journey that evolved from stress to coping. The patients adopted different coping methods as they felt empowered through therapy and found that support from family was important in order to reach a desired state and maintain their identity. Conclusion: The study showed that there is the need to focus beyond the physical limitations of these stroke survivors, and that during rehabilitation the psychosocial aspects should be included in the rehabilitation journey. In order to help stroke survivors cope more there is the need to offer more neuropsychologist support, there is a need for stroke support group and initiating community rehabilitation services would help them facilitate their transition back home.