Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability worldwide. The majority of stroke patients are elderly. Advanced age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, smoking and heavy alcohol drinking are the major risk factors. Treatment of modifiable risk factors is an important strategy for primary and secondary stroke prevention. The primary aim of this thesis was to examine stroke risk factor profile, risk factor management and clinical outcomes, as well as their association with ethnicity (defined as English-speaking background ? ESB, and non-English-speaking background - NESB) in a group of elderly patients from a multiethnic background. Stroke risk factor profile and outcomes of stroke were similar between English and non-English-speaking background patients. However, a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the NESB patient group was observed in the study (41% vs. 10% in the ESB patient group) (Chapter 2). In addition, predictive factors and predictive models for stroke outcomes were developed. Advanced age, visual field loss and stroke type were the main predictors for mortality and functional dependency at 12 months post-stroke (Chapter 3). Delirium occurred in one quarter of the elderly patient post-stroke and was also associated with a worse clinical outcome (Chapter 4). Risk factor management may be suboptimal in elderly patients. For example, anticoagulant therapy for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation was underused, particularly in NESB patients (Chapter 2). The reasons for under-usage of anticoagulant therapy were investigated in a general practitioner survey (Chapter 6). Results showed that NESB, older age, cognitive impairment (especially living alone) were significant potential barriers for anticoagulant prescription by general practitioners. Stroke units have been proven to be a better care model for stroke patients, with shortened hospital length of stay and improved clinical outcomes. Clinical audits from Bankstown Combined (Co-located) Acute and Rehabilitation Stroke Unit and later the newly established Blacktown Combined Co-located Stroke Unit have demonstrated these benefits (Chapter 5). However, further studies need to be performed in order to determine whether a combined co-located stroke unit care model is superior to other stroke unit care models, and if so, the reasons behind this.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

There is increasing evidence that stroke survivors benefit from the provision of intensive, task-specific therapy in the rehabilitation of motor function. Providing such therapy to a number of stroke survivors in a group setting (know as circuit class therapy) has been proposed as an alternative model of physiotherapy service delivery within the inpatient rehabilitation setting. This study investigated the effectiveness and feasibility of circuit class therapy, as compared to the standard practice of one-to-one therapy sessions, within a representative sample of stroke survivors receiving inpatient rehabilitation. / Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2006.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2002. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 183-193). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--York University, 2005. Graduate Programme in Kinesiology and Health Science. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-63). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url%5Fver=Z39.88-2004&res%5Fdat=xri:pqdiss &rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR11744

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published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-182). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.