Research Information System
The Journal of Neurological and Neurosurgical Nursing, vol.7, no.2, pp.56-63, 2018 (SSCI)
Introduction. Stroke is a crisis for the patient relatives who are caregivers of the patient as well. The patients’ relatives
need training and effective support at the stage of accepting this new responsibility.
Aim. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the training provided to the relatives of stroke patients
on life quality, anxiety, and depressive symptoms of stroke patients and their relatives.
Material and Methods. The data were obtained from patients, who received treatment in the Stroke unit of a
university hospital in Istanbul as well as from their primary caregiver relatives. While 20 patients whose stroke care/
treatment continued and their relatives were assigned to the control group, 20 patients and their relatives that were
trained in addition to the care/treatment were assigned to the experimental group. EuroQol Health Questionnaire,
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory were used at the beginning of the study and 3 and
6 months after discharge. The data were analysed by descriptive and non-parametric tests.
Results. It was determined that there was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups
in terms of health-related life quality at admission of hospital and 3 months after the discharge but 6 months after
the discharge, health-related life quality of the patients in the experimental group increased statistically compared
to the control group (p<0.05). It was observed that the training provided to the patients’ relatives in the experimental
group had no effect on the perceived health condition, anxiety, and depression by the patients and their relatives;
however, in the control group, there was an increase in the anxiety and depressive symptom level of the patients 3
and 6 months after the discharge (p<0.05).
Conclusions. The argument stating that the Patients’ Relative Training Program may enhance the quality of life
following the stroke and may be effective in decreasing the anxiety and depressive symptoms of the patients and
their relatives was strengthened.