STROKE PATIENTS' EXPERIENCES OF CARE: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY

Nursing profession is based on the caring of patient. The complexity of the concept
causes the care receiver to have different meanings, which needs to be accurately identified. This study
examines the concept of care from the perspective of patients with stroke.
Materials & Methods: This descriptive phenomenological study aims to achieve experiences of stroke
patients, included 6 men and 7 women, of the phenomenon of treatment, hospitalized in Al-Zahra and
Shariati hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. In this study, unstructured
interviews were used to collect the data. Interviews, with the consent of the participants, were recorded
on cassettes. Data analysis was performed using the Colaizzi method.
Results: From 13 interviews, 118 open codes, 34 primary concept, 11 subthemes, and four themes were
extracted, including: "meeting the educational needs", "full and timely care," "emotional needs" and
"continuity of care for patients”.
Conclusion: Patients always need some knowledge about the disease process and treatment. It is
expected that professional nurses do a holistic, on time, and continuously care. In patients with sensory
motor deficits following a stroke, this need is much more noticeable.