Assessment of the needs of the young stroke survivor

As part of program planning efforts by the RIC Stroke Team, convenience samples of 100 young (<60 years old) stroke survivors and 65 referring physicians were surveyed to determine the unique needs ofthis patient group. The correlation between survivors' and physicians' rankings of programs/activities value was not significant. Survivors ranked exercise/fitness, education/information, individual counseling, stress management, and recreation/social programs as the five most valuable programs. Physicians ranked education/ information, individual counseling, sexual, vocational, and family adjustment programs as the five most valuable. Other comparisons and program planning implications are analyzed and discussed.