Stroke Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Stroke, including details on treatment, recovery, rehabilitation, signs, symptoms.

Determinants of satisfaction with community reintegration in older adults with chronic stroke: role of balance self-efficacy.

Pang MY, Eng JJ, Miller WC

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong. rsmpang@polyu.edu.hk

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Many people with stroke have a low level of satisfaction with community reintegration. Although previous studies focused on the effect of physical factors on community reintegration, the effect of psychological factors, such as balance self-efficacy, has been ignored. The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of balance self-efficacy to satisfaction with community reintegration in older adults with chronic stroke. SUBJECTS: A sample of 63 community-dwelling older adults (50 years of age or older) with chronic stroke (onset of 1 year or more) participated in this study. METHODS: This study involved a secondary analysis of data collected from a stroke exercise clinical trial. Satisfaction with community reintegration was measured with the Reintegration to Normal Living (RNL) Index, and balance self-efficacy was measured with the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale. RESULTS: Bivariate correlation analyses showed that the RNL Index scores were moderately correlated with the ABC Scale scores. In a multiple regression analysis, after adjusting for age, sex, depression, and other impairments after stroke, balance self-efficacy remained independently associated with the RNL Index scores, accounting for 6.5% of the variance in the RNL Index scores. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Balance self-efficacy is an independent predictor of satisfaction with community reintegration in older adults with chronic stroke. Improving balance self-efficacy may be instrumental in enhancing community reintegration in this population.

Published 2 March 2007 in Phys Ther, 87(3): 282-91.
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