Motor Function in the Late Phase After Stroke: Stroke Survivors' Perspective

Knowledge, attitude, practice and illness perception toward subarachnoid hemorrhage prevention and management among intracranial aneurysm patients

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the knowledge, attitude, practice and illness perception toward prevention and management of subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH) among intracranial aneurysm (IA) patients.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2023 and June 2023; demographic characteristics and KAP scores were collected by a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed by linear regression and path analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 455 patients with IA were included, of them 26.37% experienced SAH before. Mean knowledge, attitude and practice scores were 16.60 ± 5.86, 16.39 ± 1.84, and 35.07 ± 3.51, respectively. The linear regression showed ethnic minority, married, education, family members in healthcare system, monthly per capita household income, experience ruptured intracranial aneurysms, smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and aortic lesion were associated with knowledge scores. Age, ethnic minority, urban residence, education, family members in healthcare system, monthly per capita household income, duration of IA ≥6 months, experience ruptured intracranial aneurysms, smoking, diabetes, and aortic lesion were associated with attitude scores. Age, urban residence, monthly per capita household income, duration of IA ≥6 months, experience of ruptured intracranial aneurysms, smoking, diabetes, and aortic lesion were associated with practice scores. According to the path analysis, knowledge directly affected illness perception (β=0.156, P<0.001) and attitude (β=0.708, P<0.001), while attitude (β=0.909, P<0.001) and illness perception (β=0.039, P=0.027) affected practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients had positive attitudes towards SAH prevention and management, but a substantial knowledge gap was found along with notably delayed medical help-seeking behavior.

The effect of animal-assisted interventions on the course of neurological diseases: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

In our experience, working with a therapy animal strengthens endurance, maintains motivation, provides a sense of achievement, and boosts overall mental resilience. The aims of this work were to summarize the results of quantitative research on the possibilities of animal-assisted intervention (AAI) among people with neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases and to attempt to assess the effects of animal-assisted interventions in an objective manner and to find supporting evidence based on published literature.

METHODS

Our target groups are people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or stroke. A systematic search of relevant articles was conducted by two independent researchers in April 2021 and August 2023. The search for studies was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, and Ovid databases, specifying keywords and search criteria. The qualitative evaluation of the research reports was conducted by four independent researchers, using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Form.

RESULTS

According to the scientific criteria and based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Form, thirteen publications met the search criteria, out of which 9 publications were rated good and 4 publications were rated poor. Evaluating the publications we found evidence that AAI had a measurable impact on participants, as their physical and mental health status significantly improved; however, mental health improvement was more prominent.

CONCLUSIONS

By developing evidence-based research methodology and standardized research settings, AAI could be measured effectively as part of health care practice. This would bring significant benefits to the rehabilitation of patients in need.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42021255776.

Influence of Evidence-Based Nursing on Psychological Status, Neurological Function, and Life Quality of Patients with Acute Poststroke Depression

Objective

This research sets out to elucidate the influence of evidence-based nursing (EBN) on psychological status (PSY), neurological function, and quality of life (QoL) of patients with acute poststroke depression (PSD).

Methods

One hundred and fifty stroke patients who received treatment in the Characteristic Medical Center of PLA Rocket Force between December 2019 and December 2021 were enrolled, including 100 cases (Group A) treated with comprehensive EBN and 50 patients (Group B) with routine nursing. Anxiety and depression (Self-Rating Anxiety Scale [SAS] and Self-Rating Depression Scale [SDS] scores), neurological function (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] and Scandinavian Stroke Scale [SSS] scores), QoL (Generic Quality Of Life Inventory-74 [GQOLI-74] score), and complication rate of both groups were evaluated, as well as total effective rate and nursing satisfaction.

Results

Group A outperformed Group B with lower scores of NIHSS, SSS, SAS, and SDS and higher GOOLI-74 scores. Besides, lower complication rate and higher total effective rate and nursing satisfaction were determined in Group A.

Conclusions

EBN can better improve the PSY of patients with acute PSD, restore their neurological function, and effectively improve their QoL.

Analysis of Clinical Effects of Comprehensive Nursing Based on Enhanced Recovery after Surgery in Patients with Embolization for Intracranial Aneurysms

Objective. This research sets out to elucidate the clinical effect of comprehensive nursing based on the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in patients with embolization for intracranial aneurysms (IAs). Methods. This study enrolled 119 patients with embolization for IAs in the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2020 to January 2021 and divided them into two groups according to the perioperative care they received: a control group ( $n=39$ ) treated with routine perioperative nursing and an observation group ( $n=80$ ) treated with ERAS-based comprehensive nursing. Surgical indicators, neurological function (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score; Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) score), anxiety and depression (Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) score; Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) score), incidence of adverse events, and patient satisfaction were compared. Results. The observation group had better surgical indicators and lower scores of NIHSS, SSS, SAS, and SDS than the control group, accompanied by a lower incidence of adverse events and higher patient satisfaction. Conclusions. ERAS-based comprehensive nursing can better promote patients’ neurological recovery after embolization for IAs, relieve unhealthy emotions (depression, anxiety, etc.), and reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions, facilitating patient discharge.