Effect of a physiotherapist-led training programme on attitudes of nurses caring for patients after stroke.
BACKGROUND
A multidisciplinary project team developed a five-month physiotherapist-led training programme designed to enhance nurses' rehabilitation skills.


OBJECTIVE
Investigation of the effects of the training programme on nurses attitudes to patients with stroke.


METHODS
An attitude questionnaire was completed by the participating nurses before and after the training programme. In a complementary qualitative evaluation the nurses' expectations and views of the training programme were explored.


RESULTS
Analysis of the attitude questionnaire indicated that the programme was successful in positively influencing the nurses' attitudes (median of the change in score 2, p = 0.005). The qualitative interviews reflected a similar outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Quantitative and qualitative evaluation indicates that the training programme had some effect in changing nurses' attitudes to treating patients after a stroke. Such a training programme could be a useful contribution to post-stroke care.
Forster
A
A
Department of Health Care for the Elderly, St Luke's Hospital, Bradford, UK. a.forster@leeds.ac.uk
Dowswell
G
G
Young
J
J
Bagley
P
P
Sheard
J
J
Wright
P
P
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000451:nursing* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000193:education*; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing / Q000193:education*