Anne Oikarinen1, Janne Engblom, Helvi Kyngäs, Maria Kääriäinen. 1. Questions or comments about this article may be directed to Anne Oikarinen, PhD, at anne.oikarinen@oulu.fi. She is a Postdoctoral Researcher, Research Unit of Nursing Science and Health Management, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. Janne Engblom, DSc, is Lecturer in Statistics, Quantitative Methods in Management, Turku School of Economics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. Helvi Kyngäs, PhD, is Professor of Nursing Science, Research Unit of Nursing Science and Health Management, University of Oulu, and Part-time Chief Nursing Officer, Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District, Oulu, Finland. Maria Kääriäinen, PhD, is Professor of Nursing Science, Research Unit of Nursing Science and Health Management, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that counseling about risk factor-related lifestyle habits can produce significantly beneficial changes in the lifestyle habits of patients with stroke. However, it is not sufficient only to provide a patient with appropriate information, but the quality of lifestyle counseling is also essential. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of a lifestyle counseling intervention on lifestyle counseling quality in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack. METHODS: Posttest control group design was used. Patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack (n = 98), divided into intervention and control groups, completed the Counseling Quality Questionnaire after receiving lifestyle counseling at the hospital (January 2010 to October 2011). Data were analyzed with an analysis of variance. RESULTS: The patients rated lifestyle counseling quality quite high in terms of all sum variables except patient centeredness. Counseling quality except for counseling resources was estimated to be significantly better by the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle counseling quality at the hospital can be enhanced by a counseling intervention. More attention to factors that promote patient centeredness of counseling is required because patient centeredness has repeatedly been recognized as the weakest aspect of counseling by both patients with stroke and other patient groups.
BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that counseling about risk factor-related lifestyle habits can produce significantly beneficial changes in the lifestyle habits of patients with stroke. However, it is not sufficient only to provide a patient with appropriate information, but the quality of lifestyle counseling is also essential. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of a lifestyle counseling intervention on lifestyle counseling quality in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack. METHODS: Posttest control group design was used. Patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack (n = 98), divided into intervention and control groups, completed the Counseling Quality Questionnaire after receiving lifestyle counseling at the hospital (January 2010 to October 2011). Data were analyzed with an analysis of variance. RESULTS: The patients rated lifestyle counseling quality quite high in terms of all sum variables except patient centeredness. Counseling quality except for counseling resources was estimated to be significantly better by the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle counseling quality at the hospital can be enhanced by a counseling intervention. More attention to factors that promote patient centeredness of counseling is required because patient centeredness has repeatedly been recognized as the weakest aspect of counseling by both patients with stroke and other patient groups.