Association between personal and environmental factors and the occurrence of handicap situations following a stroke

Background and purpose: Little is known about the potential role of environ mental factors in the handicap creation process following a stroke. The obj ective of this study was to explore the presence of a relationship between environmental factors and the occurrence of handicap following a stroke. ta king into consideration age and the level of impairments and disabilities. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study where data were collected 6 months after discharge from an intensive functional rehabilitation unit. A conven ience sample of 51 participants was recruited at the time of their admissio n to the rehabilitation unit for rehabilitation post-stroke. Perceived infl uence of environmental factors was measured using the Measure of the Qualit y of the Environment (MQE). Handicap situations were measured with the Asse ssment of Life Habits (LIFE-H). Impairments and disabilities comprised six domains (cognition, perception. depression, communication, sensorimotor fun ction and comorbidity) assessed using a variety of measuring tools from whi ch a composite score was derived. Results: Fifty-one participants aged 40-97 years old took part in this stud y. Perceived obstacles in the environment, together with age and the level of impairments and disabilities, explained 58.9% of the variation in the LI FE-H (handicap level). Taken alone. the perceived obstacles(total score) ex plained 6.2%. The perceived facilitators (total score) in the environment w ere not found to be related to the presence of handicap situations. Conclusion: Increased level of impairments and disabilities, advanced age a nd perceived barriers in the physical and social environment contribute to the handicap creation process following a stroke.