Abstract
Caregivers of stroke patients have needs that should be addressed. The aim of this study was to gain information regarding the expressed needs of informal caregivers of stroke patients who are receiving out-patient physiotherapy treatment at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. A qualitative study, using indepth interviews, was carried out to collect data regarding the needs of these caregivers. Ten caregivers formed the study sample. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analysed into themes that emerged from the data. Five themes relating to the needs of the care-givers emerged following the analysis of the data. These included: the lack of information regarding stroke; the need for skills training to enable the caregiver to assist the patient at home; the need for financial support; a need for home-based therapy and the need for physical assistance when caring for patients at home. The caregivers of patients need more information regarding strokes as well as a community-based rather than an institution-based approach to rehabilitation. Rehabilitation professionals in Zambia could use the information gained from this study to implement rehabilitation programmes, which wouldaddress the needs of caregivers in that country
Highlights
Stroke is a serious health problem in both developing and developed countries (Giacaman 2001, Dowswel et al 2002)
As has been previously indicated by Pound et al (1993) the present study revealed that there are shortcomings of stroke services in meeting the needs of caregivers of stroke patients
As the comprehensive management of stroke patients depends largely on the cooperation of the caregiver and his or her ability to provide care, it is important that the caregivers’ needs are considered. It can be concluded from this qualitative study that the caregivers of stroke patients receiving treatment at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia have similar needs to those mentioned in the literature (Pound et al 1993, Zwygart-Stauffacher et al 2000, Van der Smagt-Duijnstee et al 2001)
Summary
Stroke is a serious health problem in both developing and developed countries (Giacaman 2001, Dowswel et al 2002). More than half of stroke survivors are left with residual disabilities that require assistance with activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing and dressing (Dorsey and Vaca 1998). 80% of stroke survivors return to the community, relying on their family members’ emotional, informational and instrumental support for daily living (Anderson et al 1995). Tel: (021) 959-2542 (w) (021) 904-6288 (h) majority of cases, caregivers are family members, with spouses being the most likely caregiver, followed by the client’s own children (Teel et al 2001). They are referred to as informal caregivers. Despite the high prevalence of stroke and the potentially high burden on caregivers of stroke survivors worldwide, few studies have systematically addressed the consequences of stroke on family members and other informal caregivers (Periad and Ames 1993)
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