Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Pirandello’S Analogy: A Source For A Better Understanding Of The Social Impact Of Stroke, M.A.C. Van Haaren, Maggie Lawrence, P.H. Goossens, B. Van Den Bossche, M.J.H. Wermer, A.A. Kaptein

Dr. Maggie Lawrence

Background: Suffering a stroke has major implications for the patient. To understand human suffering, one should understand society. Pirandello described society as a higher entity than the individual, thereby justifying human adaptability to society. We explore a qualitative finding that suggests that social trends may influence how stroke patients prioritize aspects of their rehabilitation. Methods: We compare a contemporary patient’s experience of stroke recovery with that of a fictional character from the works of Luigi Pirandello. Both patients had two main residual symptoms: hemiparesis and aphasia. Results: The rehabilitation priorities of the two patients differed, and appeared to reflect the …

Determining The Needs, Priorities, And Desired Rehabilitation Outcomes Of Young Adults Who Have Had A Stroke, Maggie Lawrence, Sue Kinn

Dr. Maggie Lawrence

Background: Guidelines state that young adults’ rehabilitation needs and priorities following stroke are different from older adults’. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding young adults’ perspectives of their needs and priorities.

Aims: To gain an understanding of young adults’ experience of stroke and associated rehabilitation needs, priorities and desired outcomes.

Methods: Longitudinal data were gathered using unstructured interviews and analysed using phenomenological reduction.

Results: Ten young adults took part in up to four interviews over two years. An overarching theme, Embodied Disorientation, and three sub-themes: Mortal Body, Situated Body, and Embodied Perception of Difference, described the young adults’ …