Barriers experienced by Stroke survivors when participating in meaningful occupations in the community

Abstract

Introduction: There are various personal and environmental factors that hinder the stroke survivors’ participation in meaningful occupations within a rural and semi-rural community context. Thus, occupational therapists need to consider such barriers in order to provide holistic treatment.

Aim: This study intended to explore the barriers experienced by stroke survivors on their participation in meaningful occupations in a rural and semi-rural community.

Method: An explorative qualitative study was conducted, using a purposive sampling method to recruit participants at a public healthcare district hospital. Data were collected at the participants’ homes using individual semi-structured interviews. The researcher made use of open-ended questions guided by the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework 3rd edition and the Person Environment Occupation Performance model.

Findings: Four themes related to the barriers experienced by stroke survivors on their participation in meaningful occupations emerged: (i) physical barriers, (i) psychological barriers, (iii) financial and (iv) environmental barriers.

Conclusion: The barriers explored in this study compelled the stroke survivors to accept varying degrees of assistance from their caregivers. The findings of this study could assist occupational therapists to consider the factors that hinder the stroke survivors’ participation in meaningful occupations in rural and semi-rural South African communities, and inform treatment aims that are relevant to the respective communities. If occupational therapists consider these barriers when planning treatment, this could assist with maximizing in- dependence in all areas of stroke survivors’ lives, lessening the burden of care on their caregivers and decreasing the patient load on clinical and community occupational therapists.

Implications for practice

Stroke survivors dwelling in the semi-rural and rural community contexts experience barriers which are unique to such settings. Thus, occupational therapist should be aware of the differences of barriers experienced not only in the hospital setting, but in the community context that stroke survivors are reintegrated to. Such consideration could contribute to intervention focussed on the individual’s specific needs with regard to participation in meaningful occupations within the semi-rural and rural contexts they reside in.