Integrated strategies of support and home care by family caregivers for prevention of hospital readmissions among stroke survivors.

BACKGROUND: Investigation of integrated readmission preventative strategies employed by family caregivers reveals key needs of stroke survivors and their families, yet insufficient feedback limits the ability of healthcare providers to deliver customized and culturally sensitive support. The objective was to identify integrated strategies of Chinese family caregivers to prevent hospital readmissions among stroke survivors. METHODS: Employing a qualitative descriptive study design and utilizing purposive sampling, this research involved ten adult family caregivers who had provided care to a stroke survivor in a community setting for at least six months. Participants were recruited from a tertiary hospital specializing in Chinese medicine that offers a wide range of services. Caregivers were asked questions in a face-to-face, semi-structured interview. The narrative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Among the caregivers, seven were female and three were male, with an average age of 55 years. They indicated integrated strategies that fell into six thematic categories reflecting congruence, as a sense of well-being, to reduce hospital readmissions, including: (1) promoting physical activity; (2) integrating pleasurable foods with a balanced diet; (3) monitoring internal and external threats to health and safety; (4) developing individualized motivational strategies; (5) providing emotional support and maintaining optimism; and (6) gaining knowledge from healthcare professionals and fellow caregivers. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Health promotion initiatives might consider integrated strategies and emphasize culturally competent efforts identified in this study. Future longitudinal research on the long-term reduction of readmission risk for stroke survivors is demanded.