Circumstances surrounding stroke onset: symbolic meaning of time factors related to numbers and days of the week.

Abstract

To explore the circumstances surrounding the onset of stroke, and especially the symbolic meaning of time factors related to numbers and days of the week. Phenomenological qualitative study involving individual interviews conducted 5-8 weeks post-stroke. The audiotaped interviews were transcribed, then comprehensively coded by two team members, and summaries of each case were written. Since this was a secondary analysis, special attention was paid to the significance of themes, numbers and days of the week when analyzing the summaries and transcripts. Interviews were conducted with 37 participants (mean age 56.3 ± 11.9 years, 60% male). Five themes were identified with respect to the meaning attributed to numbers: (1) personal events, (2) historical events, (3) annual events, (4) age, and (5) avoidance. Themes identified as being associated with days of the week were work, leisure activities, household chores and medical tests/appointments. The impact of internalised emotions related to these perceptions can be quite significant. This study suggests that health professionals should personalise the secondary prevention of strokes by considering clients holistically and also give clients the opportunity to freely express their feelings about the meaning of time factors to foster awareness of their own perceptions. The use of checklists only for stroke secondary prevention does not allow taking into account psychosocial factors as potential precipitating factors. An open dialogue about personal circumstances starting on the date and day the stroke happened enabled the emergence of meaningful themes. As relationships emerged as the overarching essential theme, quality of relationships could be addressed in rehabilitation post-stroke and thus potentially contribute to prevent stroke recurrence.