The Relationship of Stroke and Self-Efficacy - Essay Example

This study was conducted to determine the effects of self efficacy on the recovery of post stroke patients. To establish the relationship, a quasi-experimental design was used. This was composed of four questionnaires given in a designated order to maintain internal validity in the resulting statistical data. The first was the Modified Rivermead Mobility Index (MRMI), followed by the Falls-Efficacy Scale, Swedish Version (FES (S)), the Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SSEQ) and the Demographic Questionnaire was given to each subject. The subjects were selected from different institutions and centres through the inclusion and exclusion criteria. To be included the subjects must be first stroke sufferers to ensure that the subjects suffer from post stroke effect only. Also, the subjects are between 4-24 weeks post stroke. This provides enough period of time for the patients to determine and accept their post stroke condition. Subjects with other functional disability, cognitive impairment and those who was unable to give informed consent are not included. In the research conducted, an important role is being played by self efficacy in the recovery of the post stroke patients. Similar results were attained as for the study conducted by other researchers such as Allison and Keller (2004). The study used 2 self efficacy programs and one controlled variable in a random subject selection. The study showed a significant favourable difference between patients with self efficacy enhancement activities. All of the post stroke patients that went through self management on self efficacy showed improvements in all physical activities were the results of the study conducted by Lorig et al (2001). Upon determination of the results of this study along with related research works that self efficacy has significant effect on the recovery of post stroke condition, this study also aims on achieve development in the way experts view treatments of the patients. Thus, psychosocial rehabilitation programs can be considered as well. Introduction Studies show that stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. It ranked as the third highest disease based on the number of incidence (Barba et al 2002). This sickness spare no one, this can strike any member of the general population. For this reason, concerted efforts are being undertaken by different organization worldwide to combat this killer disease. In the UK, in particular, there are more stroke-related deaths compared to breast cancer, almost three-folds based on results (UK Stroke Association 2004). Stroke is a condition wherein the brain is affected. This is a result of the imfarct or haemorrhage of a certain part of the brain. Corresponding parts of the brain represent respective parts of the body. Inability of the patients to move certain body parts or to do certain activities depend on what part of the brain the damage was located (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes 2005). Disabilities are results of the malfunction of the part of the brain controlling it. Post stroke conditions can also lead to depression, dementia, epilepsy and falls (Rothwell et al 2004, Gainotti et al 2002, Berg et al, Barba et al 2002). For patients that experienced post stroke deficiencies, rehabilitation is given. Rehabilitation is important to be able to able to overcome the effects of stroke to the patients may it be physical or psychosocial. It was defined by Langhorne et al (2003) as the way of putting the body to the best possible condition after a disease, disability or accident that resulted to irreversible damage. Rehabilitation programs aim to maximize the ability of the patient's body or even bring back its normal condition before the disease or accident was acquired. In the study of effective ways of rehabilitating patients, certain factors were taken into consideration. These factors include goal setting, intervention, intensity and frequency of rehabilitation. In a study conducted by Fang et al (2004), increase in the intensity and frequency of the rehabilitation activity increases the activities and the independence of the patients to do certain tasks. Physical rehabilitation includes exercise programs and activities wherein goal setting and intervention were incorporated. Intervention activities, in most cases, include other factors that also help in the recovery of the patients. The treatment of the post stroke patients can also be affected by other non-physical or also called psychosocial factors. One of the factors that come into view is self efficacy. Based on the definition, self efficacy is the ability of a person to believe that he can do certain activities or face any events that has greatly affected his life. It is a form of self motivation that has probable effects on achieving rehabilitation goals. It was assumed that high self efficacy results to positive behaviour and, thus, reaching the set goal follows (Bandura 1998). Based on the different studies conducted by different groups on other diseases, self efficacy showed significant effects on the recovery of the patients. In a study conducted by Allison and Keller, patients with self efficacy intervention showed the highest improvements in all aspects of the rehabilitation. They perceived a high motivation in their condition and thus improvement were observed. The results of this study served as basis for the probable effect of self efficacy on the recovery of patients with any defects in certain aspects of their being (2004). Although perceived to have limitations regarding validity due to the fact that the study were based on recorded accounts of progress of the patients themselves, this study served its purpose of presenting the relationship between self efficacy and the recovery of patients. Another study conducted by Lorig et al also showed improvements on the conditions of the patients with chronic disease through the application of self management programme. The results gathered were time based showing the positive effect of self efficacy on the treatment of the patients through a period of time. The study also helped in particular with its focus on the effect of self efficacy on chronic disease management. Stroke being one of the diseases that has a high number of incidences needs further study to be able to counteract its effects on the population. The fight against this disease needs all the help it can get. Supplementary research will help determine the possible treatments that can be made available for those that may suffer this condition. This study aims to determine the relationship between self efficacy and the rehabilitation of post stroke patients through the use of quasi-experimental design questionnaires. The four questionnaires included are the Modified Rivermead Mobility Index (MRMI), the Falls-Efficacy Scale, Swedish Version (FES (S)), the Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SSEQ) and the Demographic Questionnaire. Subjects were chosen from different institutions and centres through the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria cover subjects that suffered first stroke only to ensure that the subjects suffer solely from post stroke effect and not from complications of a repeated stroke. Also, the subjects are between 4-24 weeks post stroke. This provides enough period of time for the patients to accept their post stroke condition, both the capabilities and the defects. Patients with other functional disability as a result of diseases other than stroke; cognitive impairment that serves as hindrance for communication; and those who was unable to give informed consent are not included. These criteria were used to standardise data by ensuring that conditions other than the variables under study remains constant. Read More