Improving caregiver preparedness in the care transition of stroke patients: a scoping review

Abstract

Stroke is a life-threatening condition caused by the rupture of a brain blood vessel, potentially causing brain damage within minutes, severe disability, and even death. After initial hospitalization and rehabilitation, most stroke survivors return home, relying on their family members as caregivers for activities of daily living and treatments. This scoping review aimed to evaluate caregivers' readiness for transitioning stroke patient care to a home environment. We conducted a comprehensive search on Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases, followed by a secondary search to identify articles based on predefined criteria. A total of 14 articles were synthesized, leading to a series of findings: (1) there is a need to assess and identify caregiver needs, (2) the process needs relevant information, (3) caregivers are involved in the care process until the patients are discharged from the hospital, and (4) there is a need to offer support to caregivers. These results indicate that implementing strategies to enhance caregiver preparedness is crucial for the effective home-based care of stroke survivors.