Abstract:
Background: Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability in the world. It can affect the
activities of daily living (ADL) of stroke survivors. Identifying the factors associated with ADL
of stroke survivors is vital to provide proper rehabilitation and to improve the quality of life.
Objectives: To determine the level of dependence on ADL and the factors associated with ADL
of stroke survivors.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of 257
stroke survivors attending follow-up neurology and medical clinics after three months of
hospital discharge at Teaching Hospital Karapitiya. Convenient sampling technique was used
and every consecutive patient who fulfilled the inclusion criteria was invited to participate in the
study. Barthel index (BI) was used to assess the ADL and a self-developed interviewer administered questionnaire was used to assess the socio-demographic and clinical parameters.
Results: The mean (SD) age of the participants was 66.12 (±11.6) years and 58.8% were males.
Among the participants, 80.9% had ischemic strokes. The mean (SD) BI score three months
after discharge was 64.7 (±26.4). Of the participants, 40.8% were severely dependent on the
ADL. The level of dependence was negatively correlated with age (r=-0.13, p<0.05). Age,
marital status, occupation, type of stroke, level of disability at the time of hospital discharge,
receiving rehabilitation, and follow-up care were significantly associated with ADL (p<0.05).
Significant predictors of ADL were level of disability, duration of hospitalization, and regularity
of follow-up care treatment (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Young age, married, doing a formal occupation, longer hospital stay, receiving
continued rehabilitation therapies, and regular follow-up care had better independence on ADL.
Therefore, it is vital to plan appropriate rehabilitation interventions to improve ADL.
