Evaluation of a stroke rehabilitation training programme for community-based primary healthcare

African Journal of Disability

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Evaluation of a stroke rehabilitation training programme for community-based primary healthcare
 
Creator Scheffler, Elsje Mash, Robert
 
Subject Family medicine primary healthcare; community care; stroke rehabilitation; community health workers; low resourced; low- and middle-income countries.
Description Background: Family caregiver training is an integral part of stroke rehabilitation programmes and is associated with improved caregiver and stroke survivor outcomes. In the Cape Winelands District, a low-resourced rural community-based setting in South Africa, stroke survivors and family caregivers mostly rely on assistance from community health workers (CHWs), despite their lack of stroke-specific rehabilitation training.Objectives: To evaluate the implementation and immediate effects of a bespoke, 16 session, 21 h stroke rehabilitation training programme for CHWs to better support family caregivers.Methods: Two cooperative inquiry groups participated in participatory action research to design and develop the programme. This article reports on the implementation of this programme. Inquiry group members directly observed the training, obtained written and verbal feedback, interviewed CHWs and observed them in the community. Consensus on their learning was achieved after reflection on their experience and observations.Results: Learning of the cooperative inquiry groups was categorised into the effect on community-based care, the training programme’s design and development, how training was delivered and implications for service delivery. Community health workers empowered caregivers and stroke survivors and enabled access to care, continuity, coordination and person-centredness. The need for experiential learning and a spiral curriculum was confirmed. Therapists needed a different set of skills to deliver training. A systems approach and effective leadership were needed to enable community health workers to use their new skills.Conclusion: The stroke rehabilitation training programme demonstrated potential for integration into service delivery and equipping CHWs to support family caregivers and stroke survivors. Further evaluation of the programme’s effectiveness and scale-up is needed.Contribution: Evidence of an intervention to train CHWs to support stroke survivors and family caregivers.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor Stellenbosch University (Harry Crossley Fund and SURMEPI), Discovery Foundation
Date 2023-09-08
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Participatory action research
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/ajod.v12i0.1137
 
Source African Journal of Disability; Vol 12 (2023); 13 pages 2226-7220 2223-9170
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1137/2446 https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1137/2447 https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1137/2448 https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1137/2449
 
Coverage Cape Winelands — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2023 Elsje Scheffler, Robert Mash https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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