title: A qualitative study of quality of life after stroke: the importance of social relationships.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in the USA; however, we have an incomplete understanding of how stroke affects long-term quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report here findings from focus groups with 9 long-term stroke survivors and 6 caregivers addressing patients' post-stroke quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key themes identified by patients were: social support, coping mechanisms, communication, physical functioning and independence. Role changes in patients were important to caregivers. Much of the discussion with patients and caregivers described specific ways in which the stroke altered social relationships.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings are consistent with prior research indicating the importance of social factors to quality of life following stroke. Our findings suggest that measures of stroke-related quality of life should include assessment of social function and social support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612-3244, USA. bethlynch@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Zeeshan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinemann
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Victorson
authors.forename: Cindy J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Nowinski
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cella