title: Developing stroke rehabilitation and community services: a meta-synthesis of qualitative literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the key factors that are necessary to account for in planning and developing rehabilitation and community services for stroke based on users' perspectives.
  
  
  METHODS
  A meta-synthesis of qualitative research comprising three stages: (i) systematic searching and identification of relevant reports; (ii) critical appraisal of selected reports; (iii) analysis and synthesis of included reports.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 138 reports were identified, 101 were rejected after applying the inclusion criteria. Following critical appraisal, 18 papers were included. The main interconnecting themes relate to how the impact of stroke is influenced by: (i) the person; (ii) close social relationships; (iii) the social environment; (iv) interactions between all three. The lines-of-argument synthesis relates to the social world a person inhabits and its effect on how a person will perceive and deal with their stroke. Support will be most effective when delivered in the context of this social world.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  How stroke is perceived is highly dependent on a person's identity. Support can be effective if delivered within the existing structures of a stroke survivor's unique social world.
authors: School for Health, University of Bath, England, UK.
authors: Mary Catherine
authors: MC
authors: Reed
authors: Victorine
authors: V
authors: Wood
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Harrington
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Paterson
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D006285:Health Planning; D006801:Humans; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D012946:Social Welfare; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation