5307.0: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 - 9:30 PM

Abstract #9884

Community reintegration after stroke: Environmental determinants of quality of life

Dorothy Edwards, PhD, Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University, Campus Box 8505, 4444 Forest Park Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108-2292, 314-286-1631, dorothye@ot-link.wustl.edu

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in adults in the United States. Strokes often occur without warning, forcing the individual and his/her family to make dramatic changes in lifestyle. Traditionally, stroke outcome studies focus on mortality and morbidity rather than functional performance and quality of life. There is a need for better documentation of the process of community reintegration after stroke and the factors that facilitate or inhibit the development of secondary conditions in persons with stroke. As a part of this research individuals who have had a stroke were assessed twice using the MPS and the EBFL over a four-month period of time. The goal of the research was to examine the relationships among functional performance, social participation and quality of life over time in persons with stroke.

Learning Objectives: 1. To describe levels of participation in major life activities in persons with stroke. 2. To identify specific facilitators and barriers in the environment affecting participation of individuals with stroke. 3. To ascertain the influence of functional performance, environmental and societal factors on participation in an attempt to reduce health disparities, promote community reintegration, and enhance quality of life after stroke

Keywords: Disability, Environment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA