Understanding the Professional Care Experience of Patients with Stroke: A Qualitative Study Using In-Depth Interviews

BACKGROUND: Professional support and communication stimulates the professional-patient relationship and supports the recovery of stroke patients. OBJECTIVES: To describe the perspectives of patients with stroke regarding communication, professional support, and their ability to participate in processes and integrated care with health providers. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted. A purposeful sampling and snowball-technique were used. Patients diagnosed with moderate or severe stroke in the post-acute or chronic stage of the disease were included. Data collection consisted of in-depth interviews and researcher field notes. A thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were included. Three themes were identified: 1) Providing support, with four categories, professional behavior, personalized attention, the heart of the professional and building a bond with the patient; 2) Facilitating communication, with three categories, the patient as the recipient, the content of the message and the channel, and the professional as the person that conveys the message; and 3) Promoting participation, with two categories, barriers, and incentives to participate. CONCLUSIONS: When providing support, professionals should consider communicating information and encouraging the participation of stroke patients for integrated care.