Abstract
To investigate the functional capacity and its relationship with the level of social support to people affected by cerebrovascular accident. Cross-sectional and quantitative research, conducted with 108 individuals with sequelae of cerebrovascular accident in João Pessoa/PB. Data were collected through interviews, using a sociodemographic instrument - the Barthel Index and the Social Support Scale. We observed the prevalence of functional dependency in 93.5%, and the mild dependency stood out in 40.7%. Medium social support was the most found, with 48.2%. The predominant dimensions of social support were the material dimension, followed by the emotional. There was a significant association (p ≤ 0.05) between very serious dependency and high social support. The results found allow us to reflect on the need for involvement of health professionals in strengthening the social support of patients with disabling diseases, such as the cerebrovascular accident.
Highlights
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is a syndrome which consists of the rapid development of focal clinical disorders of cerebral function, lasting more than 24 hours
The CVA became the second leading cause of death in the world, and Brazil is the country with the highest mortality rates in Latin American, leading to approximately 125,000 deaths among patients hospitalized due to CVA in the last five years, which corresponds to a rate of 15.17 for every thousand inhabitants[3,4]
The social support has a major role in the promotion of health and prevention of diseases and disabilities, studies addressing its relationship with individual levels of functional capacity are still incipient, among patients presenting after effects of CVA; there is a larger number of investigations concerning the older population[14]
Summary
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is a syndrome which consists of the rapid development of focal clinical disorders of cerebral function, lasting more than 24 hours. People affected by CVA often return home with physical and cognitive-behavioral sequelae, which usually compromise the functional capacity, often making them dependent on other people This situation has been considered a stressing event for the family, causing changes involving affective and financial aspects[8]. The social support has a major role in the promotion of health and prevention of diseases and disabilities, studies addressing its relationship with individual levels of functional capacity are still incipient, among patients presenting after effects of CVA; there is a larger number of investigations concerning the older population[14]. Considering the aspects here addressed, the inquiring of this study was: what is the level of social support, and what its relationship with functional capacity, in patients presenting sequelae of CVA?
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