Struggling for freedom - Lived experiences of being a relative of a stroke survivor in the first six months after hospital discharge

Abstract

The aim of this study was to illuminate the meaning of being a relative of a stroke survivor in the first six months after hospital discharge. The study is a part of a larger research project focusing on pedagogic strategies for relatives of stroke survivors. Qualitative interviews were performed with nine relatives of stroke survivors. The data were analysed by means of phenomenological hermeneutic analysis. In the analysis two main themes emerged; (1) awareness of the irrevocably altered life situation and (2) being strong in the altered life situation, which revealed that relatives are actively involved in "a struggle for freedom", as they have no wish to adapt to the illness or its consequences. Instead, they want to choose their own way of life and write their own history. For that reason, they try to integrate the illness and its consequences by influencing and changing the stroke survivor, health professionals and their surroundings to suit their own needs. The results contribute to facilitating the health professionals' work by showing that the relatives are free and independent human beings who have the capacity and power to create their own history. Focus should be directed towards identifying and supporting the relatives capacity to create history, and therefore, health professionals need to heed them.