Impact of community- based stroke rehabilitation on activities of daily life of stroke survivors – a Quasi-experimental study

Stroke is an emerging  public health problem. It is a major cause of mortality, morbidity including significant disability with the greatest burden being in low and middle income countries. Stroke is the second most common cause of mortality after coronary artery disease causing nearly 6 million deaths annually among the 17 million people affected. India is witnessing a pattern of epidemiological transition, where the burden of communicable diseases is declining, while the burden of non-communicable diseases, especially stroke, is increasing.

Globally, several studies have been done to assess the effect of rehabilitation in stroke by the help of family members or other non-family caregivers like home nurses. But these studies do not show any change in dependency or death or activities of daily living  of stroke patients. Therefore, it is essential to identify and adapt  new strategies for rehabilitation for stroke.

Giving them physical and mental support at their homes by trained health workers may increase the adherence to rehabilitation and subsequent improvement in activities of daily life and quality of life. So, the primary focus of this study is  the follow-up rehabilitation provided in the patients’ homes by trained health workers with the support of family members.