Exploring the personal stroke and rehabilitation experiences of older adults with chronic stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative descriptive study

ABSTRACT

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the personal stroke and rehabilitation experiences of older adults with chronic stroke living in a mid-sized Northwestern Ontario city in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive approach with a constructivist worldview was used. In addition, a semi-structured interview guide was used to gather the participants’ perspectives on their experiences throughout stroke recovery. Ten participants were interviewed, including six males and four females. The interviews were completed, transcribed, and analysed using inductive and deductive content analysis. Multiple steps were taken to enhance data trustworthiness.

Results

Six main themes and eight related subthemes emerged. These included: getting help is complex, the effects of stroke are multifaceted, losing rehabilitation services during the COVID-19 pandemic, overcoming hardships but not alone, “If you don’t use it, you lost it”: rehabilitative success is based on one’s actions, and “look at me now”: the importance of taking pride in one’s successes.

Conclusions

One unique finding was that the participants used this study as an opportunity to teach and advocate for future stroke survivors which is not often seen in qualitative stroke rehabilitation research. Future stroke research should place emphasis on both the positive and negative experiences of this population.

KEYWORDS:

• Exercise
• rehabilitation
• stroke
• experiences
• COVID-19

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics statement

Ethics was obtained from the Research Ethics Board at Lakehead University [1468765] and St. Joseph’s Care Group Hospital [2022005].

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Nicole P. Lee

Nicole P. Lee completed her Masters of Science (MSc) at Lakehead University in the School of Kinesiology. This work represents her MSc thesis.

Erin S. Pearson

Dr. Erin S. Pearson is an associate professor at Lakehead University in the School of Kinesiology.

Paolo Sanzo

Dr. Paolo Sanzo is an associate professor at Lakehead University in the School of Kinesiology.

Taryn Klarner

Dr. Taryn Klarner is an assistant professor at Lakehead University in the School of Kinesiology.