title: Picture This: Exploring the Lived Experience of High-Functioning Stroke Survivors Using Photovoice.
abstract: An increasing number of high-functioning stroke survivors are present with minimal functional impairments and are often discharged with reduced access to community reintegration. Our objectives were to explore the lived experience of high-functioning stroke survivors and to identify gaps in community and rehabilitation services. Photovoice was used with five high-functioning stroke survivors to photo-document their experiences. A modified inductive thematic analysis was used, and meanings behind the photographs were elicited through four focus group sessions followed by photography exhibitions. Five themes emerged: lack of understanding and consideration for persons with disability, emotional and behavioral impacts after stroke, self-reliance and dependence on others, importance of appropriate and accessible services, and financial determinants of quality of life. By including service users' voices; investing in adapted, community-based programs; and providing educational programs for creating attitudinal change among service providers, the polarization between who can and cannot access services will be reduced.
authors.affiliation: The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada marie.maratos@alumni.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maratos
authors.affiliation: The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Linh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.affiliation: The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Jordon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.affiliation: The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jarus
mesh_terms: D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D010781:Photography; D011788:Quality of Life; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D017741:Survivors
keywords: Canada; adaptation; brain injury; community and public health; community-based programs; coping; health; lived experience; medicine; occupational therapy; photovoice; qualitative; quality of life; rehabilitation; social participation; stroke