Sararin Pitthayapong1, Weena Thiangtam2, Arpaporn Powwattana1, Sirirat Leelacharas3, Catherine M Waters4. 1. Department of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Thailand. 2. Department of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Thailand. Electronic address: weena.thi@mahidol.ac.th. 3. Ramathibodi School of Nursing (Adult and Geriatric Nursing), Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand. 4. Department of Community Health, School of Nursing Faculty, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the post-stroke care program within the community setting in Thailand. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was a nonequivalent control group pre-test and post-test design. A total of 62 pairs of post-stroke patients and their family caregivers were recruited to the study (31 pairs per group). The intervention consisted of a four-week program that included distributing pertinent information, providing skill practice during post-stroke care sessions and utilizing strategies to enhance motivation and behavioral skills of family caregivers based on the information-motivation-behavioral skills model. The family caregivers' post-stroke care skills were evaluated. The patients' activities of daily living (ADLs) and complications were evaluated at baseline and immediately and 2-month post-intervention. Statistical analysis included chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test, and two-way repeated measures' analysis of variance. RESULTS: After participating in the program, family caregivers in the experimental group significantly improved their post-stroke care knowledge and skills as compared to those in the control group (F = 585.81, p < .001). ADLs among post-stroke patients in the experimental group significantly increased over time and were higher than those in the control group (F = 46.01, p < .001). Moreover, complications among patients in the experimental group were less than those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The post-stroke care program improved family caregivers' post-stroke care skills which resulted in improved functional status and decreased complications among post-stroke patients.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the post-stroke care program within the community setting in Thailand. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was a nonequivalent control group pre-test and post-test design. A total of 62 pairs of post-strokepatients and their family caregivers were recruited to the study (31 pairs per group). The intervention consisted of a four-week program that included distributing pertinent information, providing skill practice during post-stroke care sessions and utilizing strategies to enhance motivation and behavioral skills of family caregivers based on the information-motivation-behavioral skills model. The family caregivers' post-stroke care skills were evaluated. The patients' activities of daily living (ADLs) and complications were evaluated at baseline and immediately and 2-month post-intervention. Statistical analysis included chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test, and two-way repeated measures' analysis of variance. RESULTS: After participating in the program, family caregivers in the experimental group significantly improved their post-stroke care knowledge and skills as compared to those in the control group (F = 585.81, p < .001). ADLs among post-strokepatients in the experimental group significantly increased over time and were higher than those in the control group (F = 46.01, p < .001). Moreover, complications among patients in the experimental group were less than those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The post-stroke care program improved family caregivers' post-stroke care skills which resulted in improved functional status and decreased complications among post-strokepatients.