Identifying the needs of family caregivers of stroke survivors for achieving positive and constructive support from them in Hong Kong: A Literature Review

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Initially I would like to articulate gratitude for my dissertation supervisor, classmates, and my friends whose constant and immense support has been a foundation of continuous inspiration and guidance. I would also like to thank my parents whose guidance and love was with me in whatever I have pursued so far. Furthermore, this dissertation reflects my opinion and takes on the issue and is it does not symbolize the University opinion.

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Abstract

Aim

The stroke is an acute and sudden situation having myriad of long term ramifications. The survivors of stroke are usually left physically aphasic, disabled, and many of them suffer from cognitive impairments. For the survivors of stroke long term care is mainly left in the hands of spousal caregivers and familial caregivers. A huge amount of research and information suggest that the long period of care for the survivors of stroke leaves a negative impact on the quality of life of the caregivers. The stroke consequences have extended far beyond the individuals who have sustained the stroke to include their members of family, the main care provider of the stroke survivors. This caregiver research has mainly focused on distress and burden. As the strokes leaves devastating consequences; emotional, psychological and physical impacts on the carers therefore the informal caregivers have a key role to play offering the needed carer after hospital discharge. To overcome this burden this study was conducting aiming to identify the needs of the caregivers of stroke survivor and the factors affecting their needs.

Methods

To fulfil the purpose of the study a critical literature review was conducted. A literature review is “the comprehensive study and interpretation of literature that relates to a particular topic”. A literature review is a summary and evaluation of the body of knowledge about a particular topic. This was a qualitative secondary dissertation employing critical analysis method designed to assess the needs of the family caregivers while dealing with survivors of stroke. Initially the former literature was reviewed so as to identify various themes which can assess the readers for conducting the studies in future. Many databases were utilized including CINAHL, ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health, Psyc-INFO, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct. Thirteen studies were found which examined care giving needs of the stroke survivors' carers, out of which only ten articles were included for critique. The critique of qualitative study was done by CASP (2002) tool whereas the quantitative articles were critiqued by using Coughlan (2007) framework.

Results

The thematic data analysis method was employed for analyzing the ten critiqued articles. For determining the needs of the caregiver's four themes were identified along with generation of a map which indicated the caregiver needs. The themes extracted from the critique of ten articles include the following:

Theme1: Psychological and Emotional toll

Theme 2: Life changes and social variables

Theme 3: Learning to Care

Theme 4: Improving the quality of life of ...