Quality of life and physical activities of daily living among stroke survivors; cross-sectional study.
Sachini Ellepola, Nethuli Nadeesha, Ishara Jayawickrama and 3 others
PMID 35261205WHAT IT FOUND
In 134 acute stroke survivors in Sri Lanka, greater physical independence was associated with better quality of life.
Most had low quality of life and were severely or totally dependent in daily activities.
Key findings
01Mean Barthel Index was 42.9, and 57 participants were totally dependent and 29 severely dependent.
02Barthel Index scores were positively correlated with every SF-36 quality of life domain.
03Aphasia, dysarthria, facial disability, lower-limb disability, and smoking were associated with quality of life or physical daily activity.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study used convenience sampling at four hospitals, so the results may not apply to other settings. It was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that changes in daily activity caused changes in quality of life. Participants were assessed only 7 to 10 days after stroke onset, so the findings do not describe later recovery. The study excluded people with transient ischaemic attack, unconsciousness, mental illness, previous stroke, endocrine disease, or inborn errors in metabolism. Important contributors such as depression, fatigue, and self-efficacy were not assessed.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that improving physical daily activity will improve quality of life. This was a cross-sectional association in 134 acute stroke survivors, not a treatment study.