QUALITY OF COMMUNICATION IN THE REHABILITATION OF PERSONS WITH STROKE AND/OR DEMENTIA: THE CAREGIVERS PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

We propose that performance on a quality of communication scale for caregivers primarily reflects the communication underpinnings that tap the communication effectiveness of persons in rehabilitation with stroke and/or dementia. Demographic differences as related to illness, sex, age, time of disease and communication disorder could influence patients’ quality of life, and therefore are important to examine. For the purpose of the study, we recruited 47 caregivers (20 caregivers of dementia individuals with dementia and 27 caregivers of stroke individuals with dementia), and administered a questionnaire, which was constructed items from SF36, Quality of Communication Life Scale, και Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale. Items were grouped under five factors: 1. Daily Routines & Autonomy, 2. Self-perception & Personality, 3. Social Life & and Interaction and 4. Cognitive and Communication Skills and 5. Other General Questions. Individuals suffering from stroke as compared to individuals with dementia showed statistically significant differences with regard to self-perception and personality. Moreover, for both groups’ social life and interaction was found to be significantly worse, especially for females as compared to males. Both groups with more than 11 years of having either stroke or dementia, showed statistically significant differences in the area of cognitive and communication skills. In addition, if the speech and language are not effected this result was also significant. Moreover, an analysis of the statistically significant differences between the two groups revealed an association for the two groups of caregivers. Results showed that examining quality of communication from the caregivers’ perspective can provide a useful way to bring undefined views of caregivers into closer alignment with the rehabilitation outcomes of communication quality.