27IMPROVING PATIENT EXPIRIENCE AND WELL-BEING ON AN ACUTE STROKE UNIT THROUGH BINGO

Abstract

Introduction: A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. It is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Many stroke patients remain in hospital for several months. The overall well-being of the patient and their inpatient experience may be overlooked. The Institute of Medicine lists compassion, communication, emotional support, relief of fear and anxiety and involving relatives as essential in providing patient-centred care. A recent BMA article highlighted the importance of addressing the psychological and social needs of patients to positively alter clinical outcomes. Methods: Involving all suitable patients in our eight-bedded bays, we held fortnightly bingo. We created bingo cards that were appropriate for visually impaired patients. It required one healthcare assistant to call out the numbers. Due to the varying needs of our cohort, we held it immediately prior to the ward visiting time, allowing relatives to attend early to assist their loved one for maximum engagement. We provided prizes that were donated to our ward. We collected feedback in the form of questionnaires from 28 patients, 14 participated in bingo and 14 didn't. We excluded two patients from the participation group as they did not recall playing bingo (mild cognitive impairment). Results: Prior to bingo, 60% of ward patients reported boredom. 80% of these patients felt that activities would improve their overall well-being. All patients agreed that psychological stimulation would benefit their physical recovery. 100% of participants wanted to repeat the experience. Ward bingo involved the entirety of the multi-disciplinary team. We noted a subjective improvement in the mood of the participants, and a new vigour for their rehabilitation. Patient feedback included quotes such as 'I have a new hope of a full recovery' and 'for the first time since being here I feel like me'. Other patients reported that it made them feel 'human' and 'cared for'. Conclusions: The feedback gathered highlights a need for consideration of our patient's mental stimulation as well as their physical recovery. We plan to create a full timetable of activities to improve overall well-being on our ward as part of our patient-centred care approach. We hope to influence the experience of our patients in a positive way, as well as maximising their mental and physical recovery.