On parallel tracks: newly home from hospital--people with stroke describe their expectations.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate how stroke survivors describe their expectations regarding life when coming home, and how these expectations were met on discharge from the rehabilitation clinic and during their first 3 months at home.


METHODS
Semistructured interviews were performed repeatedly with five people, two women and three men, during 3 months around their discharge from hospital. Fifteen interviews were performed and analyzed using content analysis.


RESULTS
On discharge from the rehabilitation clinic, the informants described experience of being at a dividing line between the safety of the ward and the unknown at home. Expectations for improvement were high. A few weeks later, they described being on parallel tracks in life, waiting for improvement and adjusting to life at home. Three months after discharge, they were still waiting for improvement and had begun to realize that life might never be the same as before the stroke.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients after stroke may have high, sometimes unrealistic expectations of recovery at discharge. Health care professionals need to support patients in adjusting to real life by balancing high expectations with realistic views on the prognosis, this to enhance the rehabilitation process. Practicing at home or in a home-like environment is one way to highlight capacity and personal resources.
Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Physiotherapy 23100, 14183 Huddinge, Sweden. annica.wohlin.wottrich@ki.se
Annica Wohlin
AW
Wottrich
Karin
K
Aström
Monika
M
Löfgren
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003289:Convalescence / Q000523:psychology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011788:Quality of Life; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012931:Social Environment; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors