Young Stroke Survivors' Preferred Methods of Meeting Their Unique Needs

OBJECTIVE: To determine how young stroke survivors want their unmet needs to be addressed, we undertook an international online survey of people living with stroke. METHODS: Participants self-selected to complete an online survey that included a questionnaire on demographics and stroke-related characteristics, the Young Stroke Needs Screening Tool, and a questionnaire on how they wanted their needs to be met. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-one responses were received (68% female respondents, mean age 45 years, interquartile range 36-51 years). Preferences for methods of meeting needs varied depending on the domain of need and participants' demographic and stroke-related characteristics. Face-to-face contact with a health care professional was a popular means of meeting needs, but methods outside of a traditional health care setting such as a succinct list of tips or peer support were widely acceptable and sometimes preferred. CONCLUSION: This work provides the impetus for developing alternative methods of meeting young stroke survivors' needs, many of which are not resource intensive or do not require an appointment with a health care professional.