Facilitators and barriers of stroke survivors in the early post-stroke phase.
OBJECTIVE
To identify facilitators and barriers among persons with first-ever stroke discharged to the home in the first 3 months post-stroke by means of ICF categories.


METHODS
Stroke survivors were interviewed using semi-structured questions based on the ICF categories of Environmental factors of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for Stroke (extended version) at 6 weeks and at 3 months post-stroke.


RESULTS
The study sample exists of 67 stroke survivors with an average age of 71 years (51% women). Eleven environmental factors from the ICF chapters 'support and relationship', 'products and technology' and 'services, systems and policies' were experienced to be facilitators and only 'physical geography' was experienced as a barrier by 50% or more of the participants in the study.


CONCLUSIONS
It was possible to document facilitators and barriers among stroke survivors in a structured way using ICF categories. The high number of experienced facilitators gives an idea of how well stroke care functions in Sweden. There is a great need for further studies examining environmental factors in the post-stroke phase.
Algurén
Beatrix
B
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Section of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden. beatrix.alguren@neuro.gu.se
Lundgren-Nilsson
Asa
A
Sunnerhagen
Katharina Stibrant
KS
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012944:Social Support; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014910:Wheelchairs