Preferred rehabilitation setting among stroke survivors in Nigeria and associated personal factors

BACKGROUND: Incorporating patients’ preferences in the care they receive is an important component of evidence-based practice and patient-centred care. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed stroke patients’ preferences regarding rehabilitation settings. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used to examine preferences of stroke patients receiving physiotherapy at three hospitals in Northern Nigeria. Personal factors and preferred rehabilitation setting data were obtained using the Modified Rankin Scale (to assess global disability) and a researcher-developed questionnaire. Associations between preferences and personal factors were explored using bivariate statistics. RESULTS: Sixty stroke patients whose mean age was 53.6 ± 14.8 years participated in the study. Most of the participants (38.3%) preferred an outpatient setting, 19 (31.7%) preferred rehabilitation in their homes, 14 chose inpatient rehabilitation (23.3%), while 4 (6.7%) preferred the community. Age and source of finance were significantly associated with preferences. The majority (66.7%) of those aged ≥ 65 years expressed a preference for rehabilitation in the home or community (X(2) = 6.80; p = 0.03). Similarly, most of the participants (53.3%) who depended on family finances preferred home- or community-based rehabilitation, while most of those who depended on employment income for finances preferred an outpatient rehabilitation setting (X(2) = 16.80; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: A preference for rehabilitation in outpatient facilities predominated followed by home-based rehabilitation, and preferences varied based on age and source of finance. These variations in preferences have implications for making rehabilitation decisions.