Post stroke therapeutic education program: The experience of three aftercare and rehabilitation structures specialized in neurology in Lower Normandy

Abstract

Since 2011, our work group involves three structures of aftercare and rehabilitation (SSR) and a health network specialized in Therapeutic Education. On the basis of the guidelines by the SOFMER and the SFNV, a Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) program was developed dealing with 7 frequent post stroke physical or cognitive consequences. The point is to present the results after the implementation of the first themes. The steering committee (COPIL), created in December 2011, and supported by 8 work groups, achieved the elaboration of 38 TPE workshops. Patients and/or caregivers can join TPE sessions during their hospitalization in SSR wards, or later on (consultation, or medical and social structures). After the educational diagnosis interview and according to the post stroke consequences and to the skills they wish to improve, they take part in the five workshops, hosted by trained professionals. Three to 6 months after the session, the educational improvements, and the patients’ and caregivers’ satisfaction are assessed during a consultation. We have experienced the setting up of workshops in order to evaluate the feasibility for one year now, especially for the workshops elaborated by another SSR wards. Until now, 4 topics for a total of 23 workshops have been tested in our three structures. Twenty-seven patients (16 suffering from an ischemic stroke, 11 from an hemorrhagic stroke) and 12 family caregivers have benefited from TPE sessions in the 3 SSR wards. All patients had an educational diagnosis. Participation rate scores 98% for patients, 89% for caregivers. According to items assessed, satisfaction rate scores between 83% and 94%. Self-assessment of workshops by professionals allowed to improve educational tools and to implement improvement axes.