A Qualitative Study of the Values, Needs, and Preferences of Patients Regarding Stroke Care: The ValueCare Study

Esmée L S Bally; Demi Cheng; Amy van Grieken; Dianne H K van Dam-Nolen; Stefania Macchione; Mireia Ferri Sanz; Áine Carroll; Bob Roozenbeek; Diederik W J Dippel; Hein Raat

doi:10.5334/ijic.6997

A Qualitative Study of the Values, Needs, and Preferences of Patients Regarding Stroke Care: The ValueCare Study

Int J Integr Care. 2023 Jul 17;23(3):2. doi: 10.5334/ijic.6997. eCollection 2023 Jul-Sep.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
² Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
³ European Project Office Department, Istituto per Servizi di Ricovero e Assistenza agli Anziani (Institute for Hospitalization and Care for the Elderly), Treviso, Italy.
⁴ R&D+i Consultancy, Kveloce I+D+i (Senior Europa SL), Valencia, Spain.
⁵ School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
⁶ Academic Department, National Rehabilitation University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Abstract

Introduction: An in-depth understanding of patient perspectives contributes to high-quality, value-based health care. The aim of this study was to explore the values, needs, and preferences of stroke patients across the continuum of care.

Methods: We performed a qualitative study, as part of the larger ValueCare study, involving 36 patients who have had ischemic stroke within the past 18 months at the time of recruitment. Data were collected between December 2020 and April 2021 via one-to-one telephone interviews. All interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. The interview data were analysed using a thematic approach.

Results: The analysis resulted in five themes: (1) patients' values about health care, (2) information and education, (3) psychological support, (4) follow-up care, and (5) continuity and coordination of care. Patients valued a compassionate professional who is responsive to their needs. Furthermore, patients indicated a need for tailored health information, psychosocial services, pro-active follow-up care and improved coordination of care.

Discussion and conclusion: Stroke patients emphasised the need for tailored information, psychological support, pro-active follow-up, and improved coordination of care. It is advocated for professionals to use a value-based care approach in order to satisfy the individual needs of patients with regard to information, communication, and follow-up care.

Keywords: experiences; integrated care; needs; stroke patients; value-based health care; values.

Grants and funding

This study was conducted with financial support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme under Grant Agreement no. 875215. The funders of the study had no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the manuscript.