The effect of discharge training on quality of life, self-efficacy and reintegration to normal living in stroke patients and their informal caregivers: A randomized controlled trial

Background & Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of discharge training on quality of life and self-efficacy in stroke patients and their informal caregivers; and reintegration to normal living in patients only. Methods: In this randomized, controlled trial, 59 patients and their caregivers were randomly allocated to receive discharge with education (via a webpage or booklet) or a standard of care discharge without intervention (i.e. an additional training). The 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) were applied to patients and caregivers and the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI) were applied to patients only, before discharge and 3 months after discharge. Results: It was found that, although the quality of life improved by the trainings in the patient intervention groups, compared with the control group (p0.05). Both self-efficacy and quality of life of the caregivers improved or maintained by the interventions, compared with the controls (p0.05). Lastly, the impact of discharge trainings on reintegration to normal living which was assessed in the patients only, was found to be limited. Conclusion: Although discharge training improved the quality of life in both patients and informal caregivers, its effect on self-efficacy in both populations and reintegration to normal living in patients was found to be limited.