title: Rehabilitation Needs of Stroke Survivors After Discharge From Hospital in India.
abstract: To assess the rehabilitation needs of stroke survivors in Chennai, India, after discharge from the hospital.
  
  
  
  Mixed-methods research design.
  
  
  
  Home-based.
  
  
  
  Stroke survivors (n=50; mean age ± SD, 58.9±10.5y) and primary caregivers of these stroke survivors (n=50; mean age ± SD, 43.1±11.8y) took part in the quantitative survey. A subsample of stroke survivors (n=12), primary caregivers (n=10), and health care professionals (n=8) took part in the qualitative in-depth interviews.
  
  
  
  Not applicable.
  
  
  
  Rehabilitation needs after hospital discharge.
  
  
  
  About 82% of the needs expressed by stroke survivors and 92% of the needs expressed by caregivers indicated that they had a substantial need for information. The proportion of financial needs reported by the stroke survivors and the caregivers was 70% and 75%, respectively. The qualitative data revealed major gaps in access to stroke rehabilitation services. Service providers identified availability and affordability of services as key problems. Stroke survivors and their caregivers identified lack of information about stroke as major barriers to accessibility of stroke rehabilitation services. Caregivers expressed a tremendous need for support to manage family dynamics.
  
  
  
  The study highlights a considerable unmet need for poststroke rehabilitation services. Given the lack of rehabilitation resources in India, developing an accessible, innovative, patient-centered, culturally sensitive rehabilitation intervention is of public health importance. It is crucial for low- and middle-income countries like India to develop technology-driven stroke rehabilitation strategies to meet the growing rehabilitation needs of stroke survivors.
authors.affiliation: International Center for Evidence in Disability, Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: suresh.kumar@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sureshkumar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamalakannan
authors.affiliation: International Center for Evidence in Disability, Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Murthy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gudlavalleti Venkata
authors.affiliation: Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prost
authors.affiliation: T.S. Srinivasan Institute of Neurological Sciences, Voluntary Health Services Hospital, Taramani, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Subbulakshmy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Natarajan
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Public Health Hyderabad, Amar Cooperative Society, Madhapur, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: Hira
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pant
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Public Health Hyderabad, Amar Cooperative Society, Madhapur, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chitalurri
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health-Delhi, Institutional Area, Gurgaon, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Shifalika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goenka
authors.affiliation: International Center for Evidence in Disability, Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuper
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Health services research; India; Needs assessment; Rehabilitation; Stroke