Assessing care dependence status and associated influencing factors among middle‐aged hemiplegic stroke patients during the post‐acute rehabilitation phase: A correlational study.

Aims: To comprehensively examine the prevailing condition of care dependence among middle‐aged individuals who have experienced hemiplegia subsequent to a stroke and were currently undergoing post‐acute rehabilitation. Additionally, the study sought to analyse the determinants that impacted this phenomenon. Design: A single‐centre, cross‐sectional study design. Methods: During the period from January 2020 to October 2022, a cohort of 196 hemiplegic stroke patients, aged between 40 and 65, and within 6 months of their stroke onset, was selected from the cerebrovascular outpatient clinic at a tertiary hospital in Hangzhou. The demographic and disease‐related data, care dependence level, mental state, nutrition and depression status were collected. Furthermore, all collected data were analysed by descriptive and correlative statistical methods. Results: The care dependence level was 51.04 ± 9.42, with an incidence of care dependence of 78.1%. Multivariate regression analysis showed that age, history of falls, physical dysfunction, chronic comorbidities, depression, nutritional status and cognitive dysfunction were influencing factors for care dependence in the participants after a stroke. Conclusion: The incidence of care dependence among hemiplegic patients aged from 40 to 65 years old in the early stage after a stroke was high. Nursing staff should focus on these patients with a history of falling, physical dysfunction, comorbidity, depression status, nutritional status and cognitive dysfunction in clinical practice. Relevance to Clinical Practice: The incidence of care dependence in middle‐aged hemiplegic patients following a stroke is significantly increased. Some risk factors should be assessed, monitored, and controlled by nursing staff as early as possible in order to reduce the dependence levels in post‐acute rehabilitation period and improve the quality of life of hemiplegia patients. Reporting Method: Our study complies with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Checklist: cross‐sectional studies (see Table S1). Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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