Level of Functional Independence in Post-stroke Patients: A Descriptive Study

Background: Stroke is the second-largest cause of mortality and the third-greatest cause of disability worldwide. Strokes affect an estimated 15 million people each year and account for 7.26% of all fatalities in India. Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the level of functional independence in post stroke patients and to determine an association of functional independence in post stroke patients with selected socio demographic variables. Patients and Methods: A non experimental descriptive study was conducted in the neurology unit of a tertiary care hospital with 90 post stroke patients selected from non probability purposive sampling technique. Data were collected with the help of socio demographic questionnaire and Barthel index (BI) tool to measure functional independence and Activities of Daily Living. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Results: On admission, stroke patients’ mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores were 13.5 ± 2.44, and their average age was 55.38 ± 16.58 years. Within 4.5 h of the onset of their stroke symptoms, only 46.7% of patients arrive at the hospital. Patients were ischemic in 86.7% of cases and haemorrhagic in 13.3% of cases. The mean and standard deviation of the BI score were 28 ± 29.55 on day 1, 42 ± 29.00 on day 7 and 73 ± 28.72 on day 30. Significant associations were found between BI score and educational status, thrombolysis therapy, gender and GCS score on day 1; gender and GCS score on day 7 and gender, types of strokes, thrombolysis therapy and GCS score on day 30 at P < 0.05. Conclusion: The study results reveal that after the stroke, the BI score and level of functional independence improve gradually with time after the stroke. There was a significant association of functional independence and socio demographic variables.