A Longitudinal Mixed Method Study on Psychosocial QOL Trajectories of First-Time Stroke Patients & Their Family Caregivers in Singapore

Stroke affects patients as a whole and the effects go beyond physical/cognitive impairments, influencing their psychological wellbeing, social relationships and quality of life (QoL), as well as those of their family caregivers.

Despite substantial research conducted in Western societies has identified the rehabilitation needs and recovery outcomes of stroke survivors and caregivers, most research adopt either a quantitative or qualitative investigative approach that focus solely on patients or caregivers alone, thus, a holistic and cultural-specific understanding of the lived experience of stroke rehabilitation and caregiving is greatly lacking in the local Singaporean context.

Research Design and Objectives

This study adopts a longitudinal mixed method design with the aims to:

(1) identify the psycho-socio-emotional-spiritual needs of a representative sample of first-time stroke patients and their caregivers through a series of quantitative assessments.

(2) explore the lived experience a nest sample of first-time stroke patients and their caregivers through a series of qualitative meaning-oriented interviews.

Sample for the quantitative study will comprise 166 families in Singapore, inclusive of one first-time stroke patient and one identified family-carer whom the patient considers to be his or her primary caregiver (N=332). 30 families will be purposively drawn from the quantitative sample to participate in the qualitative study concurrently. Assessments and interviews will be conducted at four time points including 1 month post inpatient care discharge [T1], 3-month [T2], 6-month [T3] and 12-month [T4] follow-up.

Expected Outcome

A holistic framework for understanding the Singaporean QOL trajectory of stroke rehabilitation and recovery will be established.