title: Social Isolation and Physical Barriers in the Houses of Stroke Survivors in Rural China.
abstract: To describe the home barriers and social isolation of stroke survivors in the rural areas of China and to explore which home barriers are associated with social isolation.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  
  Structured interviews and observation in the participants' homes.
  
  
  
  Community-dwelling stroke survivors in the rural areas of China (N=818).
  
  
  
  Not applicable.
  
  
  
  Physical barriers in rural homes were surveyed using a home fall hazards assessment. Social isolation was identified if ≥2 of the following indicators were observed: low frequency of getting out of the home, lacking leisure activities, and living alone in the previous 3 months.
  
  
  
  The prevalence rates of 18 among 30 home barriers were >20%, and the highest was 93% (lack of handrails in the bathroom). The prevalence of social isolation was 30%. Three home barriers were independently related to social isolation. These were a distant toilet (odds ratio [OR], 2.363; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.527-3.658; P<.001), unsuitable seating (OR, 1.571; 95% CI, 1.026-2.404; P=.038), and inaccessible light switches (OR, 1.572; 95% CI, 1.064-2.324; P=.023).
  
  
  
  Many barriers exist in the houses of stroke survivors in rural China. Some of them are related to social isolation. Eliminating or decreasing home barriers could be a feasible and effective approach to reducing social isolation.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities, Baise, China; School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Lifang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: tbyan@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Tiebin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001107:Architectural Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012648:Self Care; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Architectural accessibility; China; Environment; Rehabilitation; Social isolation; Stroke