Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Rehabilitation is recognised as important in helping stroke survivors achieve their highest levels of functional independence and best quality of life. Conversely, a lack of rehabilitation services, and other environmental barriers, can prevent the attainment of optimal levels of functioning and advanced outcomes, such as community integration and employment. Aim of the study: To determine if uninsured stroke survivors living in the Helderberg Basin (Western Cape) reached their optimal rehabilitation outcome levels and if not, what environmental barriers contributed to this. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted. Quantitative data was obtained from 53 participants, who were selected through proportional stratified random sampling. Demographic information and the health status of participants were recorded. Other instruments utilised were the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS3), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA), language screening test and the ICF Core Set for Stroke (Environmental Factors). Outcome levels were categorised as described by Landrum, Schmidt and McLean, 1995. Data was subjected to statistical analysis. Qualitative data was obtained from five participants, who were chosen by means of purposive sampling. Data were analysed according to predetermined themes. Results: Six (11%) participants were classified as being on rehabilitation level 1; 21 (40%) on level 2; 16 (30%) on level 3; 8 (15%) on level 4; 2 (4%) on level 5. According to the MBI, 65% of participants required assistance with activities of daily living LOTCA scores showed that most difficulty was experienced with tests for visuomotor organization and thinking skills. Participants experienced varying degrees of difficulty with the speech and language test. A mean score of 50.84 for questions related to feelings on the SIS3 is indicative of underlying depression. Stroke survivors received limited physiotherapy and occupational therapy and even less speech therapy and dietary counselling. Occupational therapy had a significant impact on MBI (<0.01) and SIS3.6 (community mobility) (0.02) scores. Six (12%) reported assistance from a social worker. No psychological counselling was reported by any participant. A limited number of assistive devices, focussing mainly on mobility appliances had been issued. Participants regarded the most significant environmental barriers as being lack of assets (89%), transportation (88%) and general social support services, systems and policies (87%). Qualitative data showed a lack of counselling, education and training by health professionals regarding primary and secondary prevention of stroke and rehabilitation. Conclusion: Numerous environmental barriers impacted on the achievement of advanced rehabilitation outcomes. In addition to shortcomings in the primary and secondary prevention of stroke, many of the minimum standards for rehabilitation, as stipulated in the Western Cape Comprehensive Service Plan for the Implementation of Healthcare 2010, were not being met. Recommendations include establishing a designated stroke unit at Helderberg Hospital, ensuring transport, and improving the referral system to existing rehabilitation services. Increased input from core disciplines essential to stroke rehabilitation has the potential to improve outcomes. A concerted effort by health professionals is required in terms of counselling, education and training with regards to primary and secondary prevention of stroke and rehabilitation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding: Daar word algemeen aanvaar dat rehabilitasie na 'n beroerte uiters belangrik is, want dit kan beroerte oorlewendes help om die hoogste moontlike vlak van onafhanklikheid te bereik. Daarenteen kan‘n gebrek aan rehabilitasiedienste en omgewingsstruikelblokke verhoed dat ‘n oorlewende weer sy volwaardige plek in die samelewing en werksplek inneem. Doel van die projek: Om vas te stel of beroerte oorlewendes, woonagtig in die Helderberg Kom (Weskaap), sonder mediese versekering, wel hulle hoogste vlak van funksionering bereik het, en indien nie, om vas te stel watter omgewingsstruikelblokke bydraende faktore was. Metode: ‘n Beskrywende studie is uitgevoer. Kwantitatiewe data is verkry van 53 deelnemers wat lukraak gekies is deur gestratifiseerde, ewekansige steekproefneming. Demografiese inligting en die gesondheidstatus van deelnemers is aangeteken. Ander toetse wat gebruik is, is die Stroke Impak Skaal (SIS3), Gewysigde Barthel Indeks, Loewenstein Arbeidsterapie Kognitiewe Bepaling (LOTCA), taalsiftingstoets en die ICF kern stel vir beroerte (omgewingsfaktore). Uitkomsvlakke was bepaal, soos beskryf deur Landrum, Schmidt en McClean, 1995. Die data is statisties geanaliseer. Kwalitatiewe data was verkry van vyf deelnemers wat deur middel van doelgerigte steekproeftrekking gekies is. Tydens data analise is voorafbepaalde temas geidentifiseer. Resultate: Ses (11%) deelnemers was geklassifiseer as op rehabilitasie vlak 1; 21 (40%) op vlak 2; 16 (30%) op vlak 3; ag (15%) op vlak 4; twee (4%) op vlak 5. Volgens die MBI het 65% van die deelnemers bystand nodig vir daaglikse aktiwiteite. LOTCA uitslae toon dat die grootste probleme ondervind is met toetse vir visumotoriese organisasie en denkvermoëns. Deelnemers het verskillende grade van probleme ondervind met die spraak en taaltoets. ‘n Gemiddelde telling van 50.84 vir vrae met betrekking tot gevoelens in die SIS3, mag aanduidend wees van onderliggende depressie. Beroerte oorlewendes het min fisioterapie en arbeidsterapie ontvang en nog minder spraakterapie en raad van dieetkundiges. Arbeidsterapie insette het 'n beduidende impak op MBI telling (<0.01) en SIS3.6 (mobiliteit in die gemeenskap) (0.02) gehad. Ses (12%) het aangedui dat hulle hulp van maatskaplike werkers ontvang het. Nie een van die deelnemers het sielkundige berading ontvang nie. Beperkte hoeveelhede en tipes hulpmiddels is uitgereik, en was meesal om mobiliteit te verbeter. Volgens deelnemers was die grootste struikelblokke 'n gebrek aan bates (89%); vervoer (88%) en algemene sosiale ondersteuningsdienste, stelsels en beleid (87%). Kwalitatiewe data het 'n gebrek aan berading, onderrig en opleiding by gesondheidswerkers in terme van primêre en sekondêre voorkoming van beroerte en rehabilitasiedienste getoon.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2009. / A research assignment submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in rehabilitation at Stellenbosch University / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Stroke is a growing healthcare problem in South Africa. It contributes significantly to the burden of disease and is the largest cause of disability. Rehabilitation can significantly improve recovery and outcomes of stroke survivors particularly if implemented in the correct manner and through using certain approaches. The aim of this study was to examine the practice of doctors with regards to stroke rehabilitation in private acute-care hospitals in the Western Cape Metropole. In particular, attention has been given to the degree to which doctors in the private health care sector shared information with first time stroke patients. The study design was retrospective and descriptive in nature. Data collection was primarily of a quantitative nature although some qualitative data has been collected to elaborate on quantitative findings. Two self-designed questionnaires were used to collect data. Data from doctor-participants were collected to examine the use of care protocols. Data from both groups of participants were collected to determine which practices were prefered. In particular it was sought to ascertain what team work approach was favoured by doctors. To do this the method of communication among team members was examined. It was also sought to ascertain how information regarding diagnosis, prognosis, risk factors, post–acute rehabilitation options and discharge planning was shared. In total thirty-five doctors and forty-eight patients were interviewed. Quantitative data was captured on an excel spreadsheet and analysed with the help of a STATISTICA software package. A p value of less than 0.05 was deemed statistically significant. Results showed that none of the doctor participants had any formal rehabilitation qualification. It was found that stroke care protocols were used by 46% of doctor participants, while 89% acknowledged the advantages of a set protocol. The majority of doctors (57%) operated as part of a multidisciplinary team. Communication between team members regarding the patient’s management plan was done on a very informal basis with only 11% of doctors using ward rounds and none using team meetings for this purpose. Opinions differed between the two study groups on the frequency of information sessions (p = .00039). Only six % of doctors included the patient and family in the rehabilitation team. A large discrepancy was seen when it came to opinions on sharing information regarding diagnosis, prognosis, stroke risk factors, post-acute rehabilitation and discharge planning. P values ranging from 0.00013 to 0.0041 showed that the difference between the opinions of patients and doctors on these issues was statistically significant. Opinions also differed between the two groups when the frequency of information sessions was compared (p = 0.00039). Only 28% of patient participants were included in the decisionmaking process regarding further post-acute rehabilitation and in most cases the final decision was made by the doctor or the medical insurance company. Qualitative data highlighted some patients’ dissatisfaction regarding the post-acute rehabilitation process and indicated a problem with regard to the recognition of early stroke warning signs by general practitioners and the emergency treatment of these. The conclusion was that there is a great need for further motivation and education of doctors with respect to advanced research projects, further specialisation as well as the implementation of important rehabilitation modalities. It is also important that the patient himself acts as a fully-fledged team member. Recommendations were that administrators in both, the private and public health care sectors as well as non-government organisations and government welfare organisations identify the reasons for doctors’ hesitation to implement existing knowledge; that they make stroke rehabilitation training available and that they ensure that doctors implement the existing and new knowledge on all aspects of acute and post-acute stroke rehabilitation i.e. use of set care protocols, team work approach and sharing information on diagnosis, prognosis, risk factors, post–acute rehabilitation options and discharge planning when managing stroke patients. It was also recommended to promote more research projects which are implemented in the private health care sector. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Beroerte is reeds die grootste enkele oorsaak van gestremdheid in Suid Afrika en steeds aan die toeneem in insidensie. Navorsing het bewys dat rehabilitasie geskoei op wetenskaplik bewese metodes die uitkomste van beroerte lyers beduidend kan verbeter. Daarom was dit die doel van die studie om vas te stel tot watter mate dokters, werksaam in die privaat sektor in die Wes Kaapse Metropool, bewese rehabilitasie metodes implimenteer tydens behandeling van akute beroerte pasiënte. Spesifieke areas waaraan aandag geskenk is, was die gebruik van beroerte protokolle, die volg van die interdissiplinêre spanwerk benadering, kommunikasie metodes tussen spanlede en die deurgee van inligting met betrekking tot die diagnose, prognose, risiko faktore, opvolg rehabilitasie en ontslag beplanning aan pasiënte na `n eerste beroerte. Die studie was retrospektief en beskrywend van aard. Daar was primêr kwantitatiewe data ingesamel met behulp van twee self ontwerpde vraelyste. ‘n Klein hoeveelheid kwalitatiewe data is aanvullend ingesamel om kwantitatiewe bevindings toe te lig. 35 dokters en 48 pasiënte het aan die studie deelgeneem. ‘n STATISTICA sagteware pakket is gebruik vir die analise van kwalitatiewe data. ‘n P waarde van minder as 0.05 is as statisties beduidend beskou. Nie een van die dokters wat aan die studie deelgeneem het, het nagraadse opleiding in rehabilitasie gehad nie. 46% van dokters het beroerte protokolle gebruik in hulle praktyke, terwyl 89% gevoel het dat die gebruik van protokolle voordele inhou. Waar spanwerk gebruik was (57% van dokters), is die multidissiplinêre benadering gevolg. Kommunikasie tussen spanlede het meesal op `n informele basis geskied. Geen dokter het spanvergaderings gehou nie. 11% van dokters het saalrondtes gehou waartydens met spanlede gekommunikeer is. 6% van dokters het die pasiënt en familie ingesluit in die rehabilitasie span. Volgens dokters was daar beduidend meer inligting sessies met pasiënte gehou as volgens pasiënte (p = 0.00039). Die verskil in mening tussen die twee groepe is ook waargeneem met betrekking tot die hoeveelheid inligting wat verskaf is oor diagnose, prognose, risiko faktore, post akute rehabilitasie en onslag beplanning (P waardes het gewissel van 0.00013 tot 0.0041). 25% van pasiënte het deelgeneem aan die besluitnemings proses oor opvolg rehabilitasie. Die finale besluit hieroor was in die meerderheid van gevalle deur die dokter en die mediese versekeringsskema geneem. Dit het uit die kwalitatiewe data geblyk dat van die pasiënte ongelukkig was met die opvolg rehabilitasie wat hulle ontvang het. Voorts het pasiënte gevoel dat algemene praktisyns beter ingelig behoort te wees oor die vroeë waarskuwingstekens van beroerte sowel as die noodbehandling van die tekens. Die navorser het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat dokters oortuig moet word van die belang van verdere navorsing, spesialisasie in rehabilitasie en die implementasie van bewese beroerte rehabilitasie metodes. Sy beveel aan dat administrateurs van beide die privaat en staatssektor sowel as verteenwoordigers van nie regerings organisasies betrokke raak om bogenoemde te bewerkstellig. Daar moet vasgestel word waarom dokters huiwerig is om bestaande kennis te implemteer. Beroerte rehabilitasie opleiding moet beskikbaar gestel word aan dokters en dokters moet aangemoedig word om bewese kennis soos die gebruik van protokolle, interdissiplinêre spanwerk en verskaffing van inligting oor diagnose, prognose, risiko faktore, opvolg rehabilitasie en ontslag beplanning toe te pas in die praktyk. Die doen van meer navorsing in die privaat sektor word ook aangemoedig.