Long-term changes in participation after stroke

Background and purpose: People who have had a stroke may have difficulty resuming some of their previous activities, which leads to a decline in their participation in daily activities and social roles. The purposes of this study were to compare participation 6 months (T1) and between 2 and 4 years (T2) after discharge from a rehabilitation unit and to verify if any changes were associated with changes in personal and environmental factors. Method: Participation of people who had had a stroke was measured at T1 and T2 with the Assessment of Life Habits. Results: A significant reduction (p <.001) in participation in daily activities was observed, specifically in the following categories: nutrition, p <.001; fitness, p =.004; personal care, p <.001; and housing, p =.001. However, participation in social roles was maintained during this period (p =.10). The increased perception of technology as a facilitator (environmental factor) over time explained a part of the decline in participation (R-2 = 0.13). Conclusion: Factors associated with the reduction in participation in daily activities should be further studied in order to prevent this decline.