Correlation between self-perceived burden and self-management behavior in elderly stroke survivors: A longitudinal observational study

The aim of this study was to assess the levels of self-perceived burden (SPB) and self-management behavior in elderly stroke survivors during the first 3 months after acute stroke, and to explore the correlation between them. A total of 203 consecutive hospitalized elderly patients diagnosed with stroke were recruited. Self-perceived Burden Scale and Stroke Self-management Scale in 1 month (T1) and 3 months (T2) post-stroke were assessed and compared. The score of SPB in elderly stroke survivors was 28.96 ± 5.50 and 27.25 ± 6.17 at T1 and T2, respectively. Stroke self-management scale scored 165.93 ± 9.82 at T1 and 167.29 ± 10.60 at T2. In the first 3 months post-stroke, the physical burden was dominant (T1 14.73 ± 3.07, T2 14.40 ± 3.13), and the behavior of stroke symptoms and signs monitoring (T1 27.58 ± 6.56, T2 28.64 ± 6.43) and rehabilitation exercise management (T1 21.40 ± 3.28, T2 20.74 ± 3.15) was the worst. SPB was negatively correlated with self-management behavior (T1 r = -.202, T2 r = -.511). Elderly stroke survivors experienced a medium level of SPB and self-management behavior in the first 3 months post-stroke. There is a positive relationship between reduced SPB and improved self-management behavior. Addressing the characteristics and correlations as well as development of targeted interventions for SPB decreasing is beneficial to improving self-management behavior for elderly survivors.