Top Things to Know: Exploring the Inclusion of Person-Centered Care Domains in Stroke Transitions of Care Interventions
Published: April 01, 2024
Prepared by Sonija Shrestha DNP, RN, Associate Science and Medicine Advisor, AHA Science and Medicine
- The study examined the incorporation of person- centered care in transitional care interventions for stroke patients.
- Patient-centered care (PCC) is a holistic approach aimed at enhancing the quality of patient-practitioner interactions by promoting shared decision-making at both the individual patient and healthcare system levels.
- In PCC, health professionals and institutions prioritize understanding and addressing the needs, desires, and concerns of patients and their families throughout the care process.
- This approach emphasizes sensitivity to the unique circumstances and preferences of everyone receiving care, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment that empowers patients to actively participate in their healthcare decisions.
- It is important to delineate PCC components in intervention reports due to the complex nature of stroke and the varied social situations of patients.
- There is a necessity for transparent reporting of social and cultural factors, particularly concerning equitable access to care and understanding the impact of structural racism and discrimination on stroke transitions. Stroke transition refers to the process of moving a patient from one stage of stroke care to another, such as from the acute hospital setting to rehabilitation or from rehabilitation to home.
- Integrating patients' social contexts into PCC across the stroke care continuum promotes person-centeredness and health equity for diverse and marginalized communities.
- Caregiver interventions (structured education and counseling after stroke) can significantly improve caregiver outcomes, highlighting the importance of supporting caregivers during stroke transitions.
- There is a call for the adoption of standard clinical practices to prepare family members for the caregiving role, recognizing the importance of caregiver well-being in stroke care transitions. This would involve providing support and resources to caregivers to ensure their well-being and enable them to effectively support stroke survivors during care transitions.
- Recognizing the challenges faced by stroke survivors and caregivers during uncertain care transitions can help embed person-centeredness into practice, ensuring thoughtful and respectful coordination of care.
Citation
Nelson MLA, MacEachern E, Bettger JP, Camicia M, García JJ, Kapral MK, Mathiesen C, Cameron JI; on behalf of the American Heart Association Stroke Council; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research. Exploring the inclusion of person-centered care domains in stroketransitions of care interventions: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Stroke. Published online April 1, 2024. doi: 10.1161/STR.0000000000000462