title: Young and midlife stroke survivors' experiences with the health services and long-term follow-up needs.
abstract: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore young and midlife stroke survivors' experiences with the health services and to identify long-term follow-up needs. Sixteen participants from two cohorts were interviewed in-depth. The interviews were analyzed applying a hermeneutic-phenomenological analysis. The participants struggled to gain access to follow-up health services. They felt that whether they were systematically followed up was more coincidental than planned. Young and midlife stroke survivors thus appear vulnerable to falling outside the follow-up system. Those participants who received some follow-up care perceived it as untailored to their specific needs. To be considered supportive, the follow-up programs must be in line with their long-term needs, take into account their particular challenges as young and midlife stroke survivors, and be planned in close collaboration with the individual patient. To secure systematic and follow-up health services tailored to the individual, knowledgeable and committed healthcare professionals should play a prominent role within the community health services.
authors.affiliation: Marit Kirkevold, EdD, is a Professor at Institute of Health and Society, Oslo, Norway. Unni Sveen, PhD, is a Professor at Faculty of Health Science, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Randi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martinsen
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirkevold
authors.forename: Unni
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sveen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020521:Stroke / Q000451:nursing*; D017741:Survivors; D055815:Young Adult