Assessment of experiences of survivors of cerebro-vascular accidents and their caregivers functioning at home in the Oshana region of Namibia

  • Authors

    • Suama Kuugongelwa University of Namibia
    • Louis F Small
    2015-10-28
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijans.v4i2.5164
  • Caregivers, Cerebro-Vascular Accident, Functioning, Home-Care, Survivors.

  • Abstract

    In the wake of a cerebro-vascular accident, survivor and caregiver are often apprehensive about being on their own at home; this is particularly so for those living in low socioeconomic circumstances in the rural areas of Namibia. The situation is aggravated by the fact that there is no structured system of home visits by health workers that could assist caregivers in their daily tasks. Phenomenological interviews were therefore conducted to explore how these caregivers cope with providing home care to the survivors of such accidents. The findings that emerged were categorised into four themes, namely, survivors were unable to provide self-care and were dependent on others for help, the altered role function and performance of survivors, negative emotions because of altered self-esteem, and disrupted social interaction. These experiences together illustrate that some survivors are unable to take care of themselves at all and depend completely on their caregivers for help.

  • References

    1. [1] Baumgarten, M., Battista, R., Infante-Rivard, C., Hanley, J.A., Becker, R., & Gauthier, S. (2006). The psychological and physical health of family members caring for an elderly person with dementia. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 45(1), 61–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0895-4356(92)90189-T.

      [2] Becker, G. (2004). Continuity after a stroke: Implication for life-course disruptions in old age. Gerontologist, 33, 148–158. Berkeley: University of California Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geront/33.2.148.

      [3] Boswell, D., & Wingrove, J. M. (2009). The handicapped person in the community: A reader and source book. Retrieved September 29, 2009 from http://books.google.com.na/books?id =MEQOAAAAQAAJ & pg = PA.

      [4] Brosseau, L., Raman, S. C., Fourn, K., Coutu-Walkulzyk, G., Tremblay, L. E., & Pham, M. (2007). Recovery time of independent post stroke life habits: Part II. Top Stroke Rehabilitation, 8(2), 46–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1310/1QH8-4RCC-ME18-G6PV.

      [5] Chance, R. (2009). Caregiving for the stroke survivor: Life after stroke. Retrieved July 24, 2009 from http://www.caregiving help. Info/featured 0608.html

      [6] Charmaz, K. (2005). Loss of self: A fundamental for suffering in the chronically ill. Sociology of Health and Illness, 5, 168–195. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.ep10491512.

      [7] Creswell, J. W. (2008). Educational research: Planning, conducting and evaluating Qualitative & quantitative research (4th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Education.

      [8] Doolittle, N. D. (2003). The experience of recovery following lacunar stroke. Rehabilitation Nursing, 17(3), 122–125. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/j.2048-7940.1992.tb01528.x.

      [9] Doswell, G., Lawler, J., Young, J., Forster, A., & Hearn, J. (2005). A qualitative study of specialist nurse support for stroke patients and caregivers at home. Clinical Rehabilitation, 11(4), November, 293–301. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/026921559701100405.

      [10] Duncan, P. W., Zorowitz, R., Bates, B., Choi, J. Y., Glasberg, J. J., Graham, G. D., … & Reker. D. (2005). Management of adult stroke rehabilitation care: A clinical practice guideline (pp. 1–88). Washington, DC: American Heart Association.

      [11] Erikson, K. (2005). Systematic and contextual caring science: A study of the basic motive of caring and context. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 4, 3–5.

      [12] Fjaertoft, H., Indredavik, B., Johnsen, R., & Lydersen, S. (2004). Acute stroke unit. Care combined with early supported discharge. Long-term effects on quality of life: A randomized controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 18, 580–586. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr773oa.

      [13] Gagarina, A. K. (2005). Emotional after-effects of stroke (pp. 1–2). Mental Health and Psychiatry articles. American Medical Network. Retrieved from http://www.health.am/psy/more/emotional after effects of stroke.

      [14] Gibson, K., Swartz, L., & Sandenberg, R. (2002). Counselling and coping (1st ed.). Cape Town: Oxford University Press.

      [15] Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (2008). Health behaviors and health education: Theory, research and practice (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

      [16] Glass, T. T., & Maddox, G. L. (2006). The quality and quantity of social support: Stroke recovery as psycho social transition. Social Science Medicine, 34(11), 1249–1261. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(92)90317-J.

      [17] Greveson, G., & James, O. (2004). Improving long-term outcome after stroke: The views of patients and carers. Health Trends, 23, 161–162.

      [18] Guba, E.G., & Lincoln, Y.S. (1990).Fourth generation evaluation. Newbury Park: Sage.

      [19] Kim, J. J., & Keshian, J. C. (2007). Old caregivers: A growing challenge for community health nurse. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 11, 63–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327655jchn1102_1.

      [20] Low, J. T. S., Roderick, P., & Payne, S. (2004). An exploring looking at the impact of domiciliary and day hospital delivery of stroke rehabilitation on informal carers. Clinical Rehabilitation, 18, 776–784. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr748oa.

      [21] McCann, J. J., & Christiansen, K. E. (2004). Home care. In A. G. Lueckenotte (Ed.), Gerontologic nursing (pp. 913–943). St. Louis, MO: Mosby.

      [22] McLaughlin, M. (2002). Recovery self-care skills guides available. Mental Health E-News. Vol. 02-49. Retrieved August 23, 2009 from http://www.namiscc.org/Recovery/ 2002/Recovery Guides.htm.

      [23] McLean, J., Roper-Hall, A., Mayer, P., & Main, A. (2006). Service needs of stroke survivors and their informal carers: A pilot study. Journal Advanced Nursing, 16, 559–564. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.1991.tb01691.x.

      [24] Miller, J. F. (2003). Coping with chronic illness: Overcoming powerlessness (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis.

      [25] Ministry of Health & Social Services. (2005). Information system (2001–2005). Oshakati District, Republic of Namibia: HIS Office.

      [26] Ministry of Health & Social Services. (April 2009–February 2010). Information system. Oshakati District, Republic of Namibia. HIS Office.

      [27] Perry, L., Brooks, A., & Hamilton, S. (2004). Exploring nurses’ perspectives of stroke care. Nursing Standard, 19(12). http://dx.doi.org/10.7748/ns2004.12.19.12.33.c3768.

      [28] Ritcher, S., & Peu, M. D. (2004). The educational and supportive needs of informal caregivers working at Refentse Clinic, Hammanskraal. Curationis, 27(1), 31–40.

      [29] Rittman, M., Haircloth, S., Boylstein, C., Gubrium, J. F., William, C., Van Puymbroeck, M., & Ellis, C. (2004). The experience of time in the transition from hospital to home following stroke. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 41(3A), 259–268. http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2003.06.0099.

      [30] Rodgers, H., Bond, S., & Curless, R. (2005). Inadequacies in the provision of information to stroke patients and their families. Age and Ageing, 30, 129–133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/30.2.129.

      [31] Smit, J., Forster, A., & Young, J. (2004). A randomized trial to evaluate an education programme for patients and carers after stroke. Clinical Rehabilitation, 18, 726–736. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr790oa.

      [32] Streubert Speziale, H. J., & Carpenter, D. R. (2007). Qualitative research in nursing: Advancing the humanistic imperative (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

      [33] Tangney, J. P., Miller, R. S., Flicker, L., & Barlow, D. H. (2006). Are shame, guilt and embarrassment distinct emotions? Journal Perspective Sociology Psychology, 70(6), 1256–1269. Retrieved from http:// content: apa.org/journals/psp/ 70/6/1256.

      [34] Thompson, S. C., & Pitts, J. S. (2005). In sickness and in health: Chronic illness and marriage. In S. Spacapan & S. Oskamp (Eds), Helping and being helped (pp. 115–151). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

      [35] Van Excel, N. J. A., Scholte, W. J. M., Brouwer, W. B. F., Van der Berg, B., Koopmanschap, M. A., & Van den Bos, G. A. M. (2004). Instruments for assessing the burden of informal caregiving for stroke patients in clinical practice. Journal of Clinical Rehabilitation, 18, 203–214. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr723oa.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Kuugongelwa, S., & Small, L. F. (2015). Assessment of experiences of survivors of cerebro-vascular accidents and their caregivers functioning at home in the Oshana region of Namibia. International Journal of Advanced Nursing Studies, 4(2), 153-157. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijans.v4i2.5164

    Received date: 2015-08-08

    Accepted date: 2015-10-11

    Published date: 2015-10-28