The effect of discharge training on quality of life, self-efficacy and reintegration to normal living in stroke patients and their informal caregivers: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background & Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of discharge training on quality of life and self-efficacy in stroke patients and their informal caregivers; and reintegration to normal living in patients only.

Methods: In this randomized, controlled trial, 59 patients and their caregivers were randomly allocated to receive discharge with education (via a webpage or booklet) or a standard of care discharge without intervention (i.e. an additional training). The 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) were applied to patients and caregivers and the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI) were applied to patients only, before discharge and 3 months after discharge.

Results: It was found that, although the quality of life improved by the trainings in the patient intervention groups, compared with the control group (p<0.05); there was no change in self-efficacy parameter (p>0.05). Both self-efficacy and quality of life of the caregivers improved or maintained by the interventions, compared with the controls (p<0.05). In general, there was no significant difference between training methods (webpage versus booklet) (p>0.05). Lastly, the impact of discharge trainings on reintegration to normal living which was assessed in the patients only, was found to be limited.

Conclusion: Although discharge training improved the quality of life in both patients and informal caregivers, its effect on self-efficacy in both populations and reintegration to normal living in patients was found to be limited.