How Do Stroke Survivors, Relatives, and Experts Experience Post-Stroke Care After Completion of a Medical Rehabilitation Measure? Results of a Qualitative Study

Abstract

While the German healthcare system has an excellent medical acute care treatment system (stroke unit) for stroke victims, it is the discharge process and post-inpatient follow-up care after the completion of a rehabilitation measure in which misuse still occur. The aim of my study has been to formulate recommendations for improvements in the aftercare process based on the experiences of the participants. All in all, 19 persons were interviewed, six experts from medical and therapeutic care, seven stroke victims, and six relatives took part in the interviews. The audio-documented interviews were transcribed with the analysis software MAXQDA and analyzed using qualitative content analysis (KUCKARTZ, 2016). The results show that the dissemination of information, the involvement of relatives, and the budgeting in the German health care system can influence gaps and interruptions in follow-up care and thus offer starting points for improvement.