The journey to recovery: Experiences and perceptions of individuals following stroke

ML Roberts Prize Winner

Abstract

Stroke is a common cause of long term disability in New Zealand and can have a large impact on an individual’s life. This study aimed to identify and discuss the experiences, perceptions and challenges faced by those living with stroke, to provide health professionals with an insight into the journey to recovery following stroke. Participants were recruited via the New Zealand Stroke Foundation. We used semi-structured interviews to gather data from 11 participants (ten males, one female) aged 49 to 72 years and analysed the data with the General Inductive Approach. Three main themes emerged from our data: a) “Journey to the new me”, b) “Moving forward; the highs and the lows”, c) “A big learning curve; a whole new life”. Data saturation was achieved after nine interviews. The journey to recovery following stroke is a long, personal, and a highly individualised process. Health professionals need to carefully interpret the experiences and perceptions of individuals with stroke in order to gain a better understanding of where they are in their post-stroke recovery. This will ensure individualised and enhanced level of care to promote recovery after stroke.