Experiences of adult stroke survivors and their parent carers: a qualitative study

Lisa Jones, Reg Morris*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective:</jats:title><jats:p> To explore the experiences of adult stroke survivors and their parent carers. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Design:</jats:title><jats:p> Qualitative methodology: interpretative phenomenological analysis. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Setting:</jats:title><jats:p> Six residential areas across England and south Wales. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Participants:</jats:title><jats:p> Six adult stroke survivors (aged 27–46), six mothers (aged 59–76) and five fathers (aged 55–76). </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Method:</jats:title><jats:p> Semi-structured interviews to explore the relationship and interactions between parent and survivor prior to and after a stroke, with opportunities to explore both positive and negative changes. All interviews were transcribed and analysed by a six step interpretative phenomenological analysis process. Survivors, mothers and fathers were analysed as three separate groups and the results were synthesised. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results:</jats:title><jats:p> Identical and interconnected themes emerged from the three groups, permitting synthesis into a single organising framework with four superordinate themes capturing the key issues for all three groups. The four superordinate themes were: ‘emotional turmoil’; ‘significance of parents’; ‘negotiating independence versus dependence’ and ‘changed relationships’. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions:</jats:title><jats:p> Parents reported adjusting to caring with relative ease. Survivors did not adjust to being cared for with such ease and felt positioned in a child role. Balancing independence and dependence was a challenge for survivors and parents and is considered within a systemic theory framework. Implications for service developments and guidelines are considered. </jats:p></jats:sec>
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)272-280
Number of pages0
JournalClinical Rehabilitation
Volume27
Issue number3
Early online date30 Jul 2012
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2013

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Experiences of adult stroke survivors and their parent carers: a qualitative study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this