Guri Heiberg, Cecilie Røe, Oddgeir Friborg, Synne Garder Pedersen, Henrietta Holm Stabel, Jørgen Feldbæk Nielsen, Audny Anke
Department of RehabilitationFaculty of Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsoe, Norway. E-mail: guri.heiberg@unn.no, guriheiberg@icloud.com
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2828

Objectives: To examine patient-reported needs for care and rehabilitation in a cohort following different subacute pathways of rehabilitation, and to explore factors underpinning met and unmet needs.
Design: Observational multicentre cohort study.
Patients and methods: A total of 318 Norwegian and 155 Danish patients with first-ever stroke were included. Participants answered questions from the Norwegian Stroke Registry about perceived met, unmet or lack of need for help and training during the first 3 months post stroke. The term “training” in this context was used for all rehabilitative therapy offered by physiotherapists, occupational or speech therapists. The term “help” was used for care and support in daily activities provided by nurses or health assistants.
Results: Need for training: 15% reported unmet need, 52% reported met need, and 33% reported no need. Need for help: 10% reported unmet need, 58% reported met, and 31% reported no need. Participants from both Norway and Denmark had similar patterns of unmet/met need for help or training. Unmet need for training was associated with lower functioning, (odds ratio (OR) = 0. 32, p < 0. 05) and more anxiety (OR = 0. 36, p < 0. 05). Patients reporting unmet needs for help more often lived alone (OR = 0. 40, p < 0. 05) and were more often depressed (OR = 0. 31, p < 0. 05).
Conclusion: Similar levels of met and unmet needs for training and help at 3 months after stroke were reported despite differences in the organization of the rehabilitation services. Functioning and psychological factors were associated with unmet rehabilitation needs.

The aim of this study was to examine patient-reported needs for care and rehabilitation among selected patients with stroke in Norway and Denmark. A total of 318 Norwegian and 155 Danish patients with first-ever stroke were included. Participants answered the following 2 questions from the Norwegian Stroke Registry: Have you received enough help after the stroke? Have you received as much training as you wanted after the stroke? The term “training” in this context was used for all rehabilitative therapy offered by physio-, occupational or speech therapists. The term «help» was used for care and support in daily activities provided by nurses or health assistants. Levels of anxiety and depression were investigated. With regard to training needs, 15% of all participants reported unmet needs, 52% reported that their needs had been met, and 33% reported that they had no need for training. Regarding the need for help, 10%, 58% and 31% reported unmet needs, that needs had been met, and that they had no need for care, respectively. Participants in the 2 countries had similar patterns of unmet/met needs for help or training. Unmet need for training was associated with low function and anxiety. Patients reporting an unmet need for help more often lived alone and were more often depressed. There was no difference in met or unmet needs between Norwegian and Danish participants. Different rehabilitative follow-up after stroke did not affect levels of met and unmet rehabilitation needs. Health services should pay special attention to patients at risk, including those who are anxious or depressed, live alone or have functional deficits after stroke.