Determinants of Functional Capacity of Patients Who Experienced Haemorrhagic Stroke

Abstract

Introduction. Independence in performing basic activities of daily living is an important exponent of the quality of human life. An essential component of nursing services is a systematic analysis of the functional capacity of patients in the acute phase of the brain vascular disease. This creates opportunities to plan holistic and personalized care.
Aim. Evaluation of functional capacity of patients with prior hemorrhagic brain stroke according to selected socio-demographic variables.
Material and Methods. The study included 53 patients with a prior cerebral hemorrhagic stroke, hospitalized in the Department of Neurology of the Provincial Hospital in Plock. As a research tool the Barthel’s Scale Questionnaire was used, and it was supplemented with the certificate of patients’ socio-demographic data.
Results. The research results confirm the effectiveness of intensive, professional medical practice regarding patients after prior incident of brain stroke. They are in fact reflected in the improvement of patients’ functional capacity. However, some selected socio-demographic factors significantly influenced greater independence of the patients in activities of their daily living. Among all the patients surveyed after the incident of stroke, there was found a clear improvement in functional capacity on the day of hospitalization completion.
Conclusions.
1. Men after the incident of hemorrhagic brain stroke show a lower functional efficiency compared to women.
2. Age advancement significantly reduces the functional capacity after the incident of haemorrhagic stroke of the brain.
3. Education significantly affects the level of functional capacity of patients after hemorrhagic stroke of the brain.
4. Marital status and place of residence do not substantially affect the differences in the functional capacity of patients after brain hemorrhagic stroke. (JNNN 2015;4(2):62–68)