Evaluation of Content of Physiotherapy Care Given by Stroke Informal Caregivers

Abstract

Informal caregivers taking charge of the continued care. Provision of adequate information, the need for skills in the aspect of 
home care and aspect in the management of stroke survivors can help create environment where health-care providers and 
informal caregivers partners in holistic stroke care and rehabilitation towards recovery of stroke survivors and minimise the risk 
of further injuries. However, there is need to assess the level of involvement of caregivers in home care programme. This study 
therefore sought to evaluate the content of physiotherapy care given by stroke informal caregivers. This cross-sectional analytic 
study was conducted among stroke informal caregivers in three secondary and tertiary hospitals in Lagos State. Sample size was 
70. The participants were selected using consecutive sampling technique. Data was collected using structured questionnaire that 
was self-administered to the informal caregivers. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS Version 20 software and summarised 
using descriptive statistics. This study revealed that 61.4% of the informal caregivers knew the brain was involved in stroke, 
more than average (54.3%) of the informal caregivers had good knowledge about stroke risk factors, Sixty nine (98.6%) informal 
caregivers were involved in the home programme. Thirty four percent of the informal caregivers incorporated other physiotherapy 
programmes other than the prescribed home programme. Majority of the stroke survivors required assistance of caregivers in 
performing his/her home programme Informal caregivers need further assistance as adjunct for effective rehabilitation to augment 
hospital care for stroke survivors. The involvement of the informal caregivers must come with proper training to minimise further 
risk of injury.