Integrating consequences of stroke into everyday life - Experiences from a long-term perspective

Abstract

Background: Occupational engagement encompasses both objective and subjective aspects of occupation. Long-term follow-up studies indicate that stroke can have a negative impact on the ability to perform IADL. Less is known about the subjective experiences of occupational engagement and how engagement may evolve after stroke.

Objective: To explore stroke survivors' experiences of occupational engagement and how engagement changed over time and across contexts.

Material and methods: Repeat, semi-structured interviews 15-18 years post-stroke, analysed using thematic analysis. Eight out of nine participants were classified as having had a mild stroke at onset.

Results: The analysis resulted in five themes that together formed the main theme 'It takes time - integrating consequences of stroke into everyday life by engaging in occupation, using internal resources and adapting to context'. This illustrated how occupational outcome was the result of a continuous process in which occupational engagement was a way of gradually integrating consequences of stroke into everyday life.

Conclusion and significance: Occupational engagement plays an important part in the process of moving on with life and can serve as both goal and means of achieving desired outcomes after stroke. Interventions that focus on enabling opportunities for occupational engagement in valued occupations and support the use of abilities and internal resources can reduce the impact of stroke in everyday life.

Keywords: Occupational therapy; activities of daily living; adaptation; occupational engagement.