Tran Thi Hanh
Can Tho Medical College
Title: Older adults with stroke and their family caregivers: Needs in post-stroke care
Biography
Biography: Tran Thi Hanh
Abstract
Stroke causes serious consequences to its victims, loss in their families and society. Stroke prevalence in Can Tho City is at an alarming rate. Assessing the needs of stroke patients and their family caregivers is important for healthcare workers in understanding problems from the caregivers’ perspectives. Objectives: To define the factors related to needs patients and their caregivers in post-stroke care of in Can Tho City, Viet Nam. Method: A cross-sessional study design was applied in interviewing 125 stroke patients and their family caregivers in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Of the patients, male 62%; married 83%; aging mean of 63; primary school 64%; farmer 44%. Of the family caregivers: female 77%; married 83%; aging mean of 46.80; spouses of 42%; primary school 53%; farmer 47%. With Cronbach α was at least 0.78, the tests applied consisted of t test; Z test, ANOVA, and Chi-square at p=0.05. Results: For patients’ needs in post-stroke care: 19% on basic care, 56% on prevention for complications, 52% on rehabilitation, 66% on counseling; prevention of spasticity 72%; need on services for physical therapy 86%; 22% with unidentified needs. The factors related to patients' needs include risky health behaviors, health problems last week, attitude on their situation; self-care activities. The factors related to family caregiver needs: marital status and relationship to patients. Recommendations: Setting up the network among healthcare services to keep on managing post-stroke care; more counseling and supporting from health sectors and community and more studies on for application of traditional medicine on post-stroke care.