title: Enhancing patient-provider communication for long-term post-stroke spasticity management.
abstract: Stroke is a major public health concern, with estimated 16 million people worldwide experiencing first-time strokes each year, a number that is expected to rise. Two-thirds of those experiencing a stroke are younger than 70 years of age. Stroke is a leading cause of disability in adults as a result of major sequelae that include spasticity, cognitive impairment, paresis, and depression. Disabling spasticity, defined as spasticity severe enough to require intervention, occurs in 4% of stroke survivors within 1 year of first-time stroke. The aim of this report is to focus instead on a discussion of patient-provider communication, and its role in post-stroke spasticity (PSS) rehabilitation within the context of patient-centered health care. A discussion based on a review of the literature, mainly since 2000. Problems within communication are identified and suggestion to enhance communication are proposed thus improving patient-centered goal setting/goal achievement for the effective management of spasticity rehabilitation. These are as follows: (i) involving family members, (ii) educating patients and family members on stroke and rehabilitation, and (iii) establishing a common definition for long-term goals. Increased communication among physicians, patients, and payers may bridge some of the gaps and increase the effectiveness of PSS rehabilitation and management.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology - Section for Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Gothenburg University, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Sunnerhagen
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Francisco
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*
keywords: communication; goal setting; spasticity; stroke