The use of transport by stroke patients

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to survey the use of transport by stroke patients in the community and study its relationship to their activities of daily living and mood. The records of 90 consecutive stroke patients receiving community occupational therapy in a rehabilitation trial were surveyed for entries of therapy related to transport. A further 50 stroke patients in the same study were surveyed about their use of transport one year after discharge from hospital. In the survey of occupational therapy notes, a transport assessment had been recorded for all 90 patients. Of these, 22 patients had been given leaflets describing the range of transport options locally but had been unable to use these options. In the survey of transport use, 42/50 (84%) patients surveyed at one year responded. Twenty-one (50%) had used transport on their own, six of whom scored <26/66 on the Extended Activities of Daily Living scale (indicating that they needed help in most activities of daily living). Twenty-one (50%) patients had not travelled alone, four of whom scored >48/66 on the Extended Activities of Daily Living scale (very able in activities of daily living). Only 1 (2%) patient had used specialist transport and 22 (52%) reported that they did not get out as much as they wished. Despite receiving advice, these patients did not use specialist transport options, yet many still wanted to get out more. The reason for this is unclear but it is not due simply to physical disability.