Érika de Freitas Araújo, Ramon Távora Viana, Camila Ferreira da Cruz, Sherindan Ayessa Ferreira de Brito, Maria Teresa Ferreira Dos Reis, Christina Danielli Coelho de Morais Faria
Departament of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2712

Objective: To investigate whether variables of function and disability, which have potential to be modified by rehabilitation, are determinants of self-rated health in post-stroke individuals in the chronic phase.
Design: Cross-sectional exploratory study.
Methods: The dependent variable was self-rated health. The independent variables were organized according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health components: body structure and function (emotional function and motor recovery level), activity (manual and locomotion skill), and participation (participation). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant associations between the independent variables and self-rated health (?=5%).
Results: Sixty-three individuals were included in the study: 44 (70%) rated their own health as good (“excellent”/”very good”/”good”) and 19 (30%) as poor (“fair”/”poor”). Significant association with self-rated health was identified only for emotional function. Individuals with impaired emotional function were 6. 6 times more likely to assess their own health as poor (odds ratio (OR) 6. 56; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1. 53–28. 21).
Conclusion: Emotional function was found to be a determinant of self-rated health in post-stroke individuals in the chronic phase and, therefore, must be assessed carefully in order to help provide integral healthcare and improve clinical decision-making. Future studies should investigate whether enhancing emotional function is associated with improvements in self-rated health in post-stroke individuals.

The main question studied was: Could variables in function and disability, which have potential to be modified by rehabilitation, be determinants of self-rated health in chronic post-stroke individuals? The variables investigated were: emotional function, motor recovery level, manual and locomotion skill, and participation. Only emotional function determined the self-rated health of the subjects. Individuals with impaired emotional function were 6.6 times more likely to assess their own health as poor. Assessment of self-rated health and emotional function is recommended, since these factors can help to improve clinical decision-making in the rehabilitation process in chronic post-stroke individuals.