Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration, June 1999. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (MHSc--Health Science) -- AUT University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references. Also held in print (160 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.) in North Shore Campus Theses Collection (T 616.81 STA)

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005.

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.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-06, page: 3527. Adviser: Charles E. Begley. Includes bibliographical references.

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.

by Lui How Lin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-126). / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.i / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / "LIST OF APPENDIX, FIGURES & TABLES" --- p.v / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER 2. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.3 / Introduction --- p.3 / Incidence and Prevalence of Stroke in Hong Kong --- p.3 / Social Influences on the Identification of Need --- p.4 / Concept of Disablement 。 --- p.7 / Concept of Rehabilitation --- p.8 / Review the Focus of Studies in Stroke Rehabilitation --- p.9 / Summary of Studies Exploring Patients' Needs --- p.19 / Rehabilitation Role of Nurses --- p.22 / Summary --- p.27 / AIM OF THE STUDY --- p.27 / OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY --- p.28 / DEFINITION OF PERCEIVED NEED IN THE STUDY --- p.28 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- METHOD OF THE STUDY --- p.29 / Introduction --- p.29 / Research Design --- p.29 / Preparatory Fieldwork --- p.31 / Sampling --- p.32 / Fieldwork Procedure --- p.37 / Gaining Access --- p.38 / Ethical Consideration --- p.38 / Data Collection --- p.39 / Data Analysis --- p.41 / Pilot Study --- p.48 / Issues of Reliability and Validity --- p.52 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- FINDINGS --- p.56 / Introduction --- p.56 / Description of Sample: Settings and Informants --- p.56 / Functional Recovery Pattern of Informants --- p.60 / Summary Description of the Major Categories Identified --- p.62 / Description of Common Needs of Stroke Patients: --- p.64 / In the acute setting --- p.64 / In the rehabilitation setting --- p.76 / One month after discharge home --- p.85 / Unmet Needs of Stroke Patients --- p.90 / Chapter CHAPTER 5. --- DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATION FOR NURSING PRACTICE --- p.92 / Discussion of Findings: Introduction --- p.92 / Pattern of Change in Need Across Various Stages of Recovery --- p.92 / Informational need --- p.92 / Psychological need --- p.95 / Physical need --- p.97 / Social need --- p.99 / Spiritual need --- p.100 / Factors Determining the Extent to which Need can be Met --- p.101 / Barriers Impeding the Extent to which Need can be Met --- p.102 / Summary --- p.108 / Implication for Nursing Practice --- p.109 / Chapter CHAPTER 6. --- CONCLUSION AND LIMITATION OF STUDY --- p.110 / Introduction --- p.110 / Limitation of the Study --- p.110 / Recommended Further Research --- p.112 / Conclusion --- p.113 / REFERENCES --- p.114 / APPENDIX --- p.127

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.