Cognitive Appraisal of Disability for Stroke : Repeated Analysis in Discharge, after 2 Weeks and 3 Months from the Discharge

Abstract

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to clarify the changes of cognitive appraisal of disability and coping strategy for stroke victims at discharges (T1), after 2 weeks (T2) and 3 months (T3) from the discharges. Methods : Subjects were 105 stroke victims (34.4%) with the first discharge from a hospital to their home (except for stroke victims with a difficulty to understand questionnaires examined by MDs.) in 305 stroke victims (100%) discharged from 3 hospitals located in a metropolitan area from October 1998 to February 1999. The following data were obtained from the subjects by interviews at T1, T2 and T3 : demographic data, ADL (activities of daily living), cognitive ability, appraised stress, coping strategy ; (1)subjective (confrontive, emotive and palliative) (2)objective (activities), and QOL (quality of life). The changes of cognitive appraisal of disability and coping strategy were analyzed by Repeated Measure ANOVA and multiple comparisons (Tukey test) for 85 subjects (27.9%) who completed 3 times interviews. Results : Stress especially changes of condition and beliefs of self-care were significantly increased at T2. Emotive coping tended to increase and confrontive coping tended to decrease at T2. Stress was significantly decreased at T3. Emotive coping tended to decrease and confrontive coping tended to increase at T3. Activities tended to increase at T3. Conclusion : The results of this study suggest that stroke victims must be stimulated to have stable feeling by care for emotion rather than urging more training. Emotional stability would occur more action on their own initiative. These results can be useful to understand psychosocial changes on disability for stroke victims.