Patient Perspectives on Long-Term Needs After Stroke

A substantial proportion of patients with an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke have long-term disabilities, such as weakness, speech difficulty, or gait disorders. In addition, cognitive dysfunction and depression are present in at least one third of stroke survivors. To identify unmet needs, including those directly related to stroke care, investigators surveyed patients or their proxies at least 2 years after the initial stroke event. Questions were divided into the following five categories: body functions (e.g., eating, memory), activities and participation (e.g., mobility), environmental factors (e.g., home adaptation), secondary prevention (e.g., education about stroke, use of medications), and post-acute care (e.g., participation in dec…