Study of discharge planning in improving the ability of stroke caregivers

Objective To explore the effect of meeting family caregivers of stroke patients' needs and enhance their care ability so as to provide basis for discharge planning system.Methods Totals of 100 caregivers of stroke survivors were enrolled in this study and divided into two groups with 50 cases in each group.The control group was given routine care,and the intervention group was assessed with questionnaire within 24 hours when admitted to hospital,at one week before discharge and one week after discharge,respectively.Intervention were performed as caregivers' needs,two groups' ability were compared at two weeks after discharge.SPSS 16.0 was used to analyze the data.Results There was no significant difference between two groups in needs and ability when admitted to hospital (P ＞ 0.05).The ability of intervention group have been significandy improved than that of control group after educated at two weeks after discharge in knowledge [(9.80 ± 0.40) vs (5.22 ± 1.36)],decision-making [(6.80 ± 0.40) vs (3.83 ± 1.39)],behavior [(8.20 ±0.76) vs (6.09±1.17)],comprehensive [(24.80±0.98) vs (15.14±3.13)] (t=1.14,1.08,2.24,1.69,respectively; P ＜ 0.05)].Conclusions Meeting caregivers of stroke survivors needs can improve theirability in care. Key words: Stroke;  Primary caregiver;  Discharge planning;  Care ability;  Need