The Effect of Transitional Care Model-Based Interventions for Stroke Patients and Their Caregivers

Plain-language summary

Stroke affects both the patient's and the caregiver's whole life by creating permanent damages. Patients and their families need further information and support in the transition from hospital to home. For stroke patients and their families after discharge, transition models can be used to provide continuously and rapidly the service by establishing a communication network between the institutions. In this study, the feasibility and impact of a transitional care model from hospital to home for stroke patients and caregivers will be tested. The purpose of the project is to assess the effect of Transitional Care Model (TCM)-based interventions for stroke patients and their caregivers on caregivers' competence, in increasing their readiness to care and electronic health literacy, in reducing their burnout, and on patient results. Types of interventions that are applied to stroke patients and caregivers based on Transitional Care Model are hospital interview, home visit, telephone interview and web-based training. As stated in TCM, the intervention was planned to be performed three months after discharge. Multiple interventions including at least three face-to-face interviews at the hospital, distance education via Web and telephone communication for three months, and one home visit within seven days after discharge will be performed in order to increase health literacy levels and caregiving competence of the caregivers and to reduce burnout. In pre-tests and post-tests to be applied to the caregivers, the effectiveness of the support programs provided will be assessed quantitatively by the electronic health literacy, caregiving competence, and burnout scales. The satisfaction with the intervention will be evaluated qualitatively. Rate of return to the hospital, risk of pressure sore, and time of access to home health services will be assessed in stroke patients. As a result of web-based distance education, home visit, telephone communication service and informing at the hospital, caregivers of stroke patients will begin to receive information about what patients experience during their treatment and about all what patients need after treatment. The website to be prepared for caregivers of stroke patients will be put into service also for the control group upon completion of the data collection of the intervention group and the website will also continue to be used after the project is completed.

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