Barriers in performing home exercise among the patients with ischemic stroke after discharge from Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP)

Abstract

Purpose: To find out barriers of performing home exercise in ischemic stroke patients. Objectives: The objectives of this research was to identify socio-demographic profile among the ischemic stroke patients and to explore their barriers in performing home exercise including physical difficulties, mental health related barriers, beliefs towards home exercise, familial obstacles, environment barriers after discharge from the rehabilitation center. Methodology: Descriptive studies in the form of cross sectional survey design was conducted for this research. Sample was conveniently selected from the patients with ischemic stroke after discharge from CRP, Savar, Dhaka by following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A socio-demographic chart and semi structured questionnaire were used for data collection. Data was collected from 107 participants by interviews through phone call. Results: About 68% (n=73) participants were male and rest of them were female (n=34). Most of the participants faced stroke at their 6th decade of life. There were several reasons for the participants to not performing home exercise where the most commonly reported barriers including poor physical conditions, mental health of the stroke patients, negative beliefs about home exercise, family and home environment related obstacles. Poor past medical history (34%), physical pain (28%), tiredness (27%), fatigue (20%) represent the top physical health related barriers for them. Depression (39%), laziness (always 21%, occasionally 32%), fear of falling (29%) are the main mental issues for not being physically active. Lack of motivation, friends or family members support, home environment also acted like obstacles for some stroke survivors to performing exercise. Conclusion: Home based exercise is one of the most important part of rehabilitation. But stroke patients face many barriers at home to perform exercise. To eliminate these exercise related barriers first of all researcher have to identify the accurate obstacles in engaging home exercise program. This study helps to collect information from the post stroke patients about barriers of performing home exercise which further may help to establish an effective home exercise protocol for them and improve stroke patients’ health outcome. Key words: Stroke, Exercise, Barrier, Rehabilitation.