Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the service users' (stroke survivors and care-givers)
experiences and views of the rehabilitation assessment process. DESIGN:
Qualitative data analysis from three focus groups using a content analysis to
identify the major themes. SETTING: Participants were recruited from stroke
support groups and community rehabilitation services in a large UK city.
SUBJECTS: Seventeen community-dwelling stroke survivors who had completed their
rehabilitation within the previous year and six care-givers. RESULTS: Five themes
emerged: understanding the purpose of the assessment; repetition of assessments;
feedback about assessments and progress; format of feedback and barriers to
feedback. While all participants reported undergoing assessment, some felt their
purpose was not always explained and resented unexplained repetitions of tests.
Some participants reported a positive experience, but most wanted more
information about their progress and predictions of recovery. They wanted
regular, consistent, objective information presented in layman's terms; verbally
and in writing. Some carers reported difficulty accessing information
particularly as a result of confidentiality policies. While some participants
accepted these short-comings, others considered them due to staff's disinterest
or ineptitude, which undermined their trust in the team. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke
service users require clear information about the purpose of assessments and
regular, consistent, objective feedback about their progress using layman's
language both verbally and in writing.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS