Exploring Poststroke Mood Changes in Community-Dwelling Stroke Survivors: A Qualitative Study
Presented in part to the Stroke Society of Australasia, October 13, 2006, Adelaide, Australia.
Abstract
White JH, Magin P, Attia J, Pollack MR, Sturm J, Levi CR. Exploring poststroke mood changes in community-dwelling stroke survivors: a qualitative study.
Objective
To explore the long-term experience of mood changes in community-dwelling stroke survivors at 1, 3, and 5 years after stroke.
Design
A qualitative study using a modified grounded theory approach. The primary data collection method was semi-structured interviewing.
Setting
Community-dwelling stroke survivors in metropolitan Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Participants
Twelve community-dwelling stroke survivors (6 men, 6 women; age range 43−92y; 4 participants from each cohort) discharged from a tertiary referral hospital.
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures
Qualitative outcomes were participants' perceptions using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with participants from 3 community-based cohorts of stroke survivors at 1, 3, and 5 years poststroke.
Results
Four main categories of mood change were described by participants including feelings of frustration, reduced self-efficacy, dependency, and loss. Factors that modulated these mood changes included the presence or absence of insight, hope for the future, faith, and support. A modified grounded theory approach was used for data analysis using a process of constant comparison.
Conclusions
Mood changes continued well beyond discharge and in some cases commenced after discharge in this sample of stroke survivors. Use of qualitative methodology extends our understanding of the extent and nature of low mood after stroke. There is a need for enhanced services to monitor and address low mood.
aHunter Stroke Service, Hunter New England Area Health Service, New South Wales, Australia
bPrimary Health Care Research and Evaluation Development Program, University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
cCentre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
dRankin Park Centre, Hunter New England Area Health Service, New South Wales, Australia
eGosford Hospital, Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service, New South Wales, Australia
fJohn Hunter Hospital, Hunter New England Area Health Service, New South Wales, Australia
Reprint requests to Jennifer H. White, BAppSc(OT), Locked Bag No. 1, Hunter Region Mail Centre, NSW 2310, Australia
Supported by the Hunter Stroke Service, Hunter New England Area Health Service, NSW, Australia.
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.
ABSTRACT