WHAT DO PATIENTS AND THEIR CARERS WANT TO KNOW ABOUT STROKE - A 2-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Objective: To clarify what issues are important to stroke patients and their carers. To determine whether these issues change over lime. Des ign: Prospective study of consecutive patients admitted to hospital wi th a diagnosis of an acute stroke. Each participant had interviews al six and 24 months. In addition, a subgroup of these patients (consecut ive discharges over a two-month period) were also seen at two weeks po st discharge. Setting and subjects: Hospital-based cohort of stroke su rvivors. interviewed in their own homes. Main outcome measures: Docume ntation of the questions asked. Results: At two weeks, six and 24 mont hs, a median of three, two and three questions were asked by each pati ent respectively. Enquiries about basic aspects of stroke were common but diminished over time. Fear of recurrence was apparent al all three interview periods, Enquiries about the psychological sequelae of stro ke became more prevalent at six and 24 months. At two years, 32% of re spondents asked about concentration/memory difficulties with smaller n umbers commenting on tiredness, depression and frustration. At two yea rs, 18% of the sample were still uncertain of their chances of further recovery. Conclusions: Patients with stroke continue to have unanswer ed questions even two years after their stroke. The types of questions asked changed over time.