The effect of paretic side on quality of life and satisfaction in patients with chronic stroke

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the paretic side on the quality of life and satisfaction level in hemiplegic patients after stroke. Thirty men and 30 women with hemiplegia after stroke were involved into the study. Average age of the patients were 62.7±14.0 yearsand 29 had right, 31 had left side hemiplegia. Sociodemographic and disease characteristics were documented. Motor recovery stages were evaluated by Brunnstrom Motor Recovery Stage, functional independence were evaluated by Barthel Index (BI), cognitive functions by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), quality of life by SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire and satisfaction by SATIS Stroke Satisfaction Questionnaire (SATIS). The difference between right and left hemiplegic patients regarding age, gender, marital status, occupation, time since stroke and dominant side was not statistically significant (p>0.05). However education level (p=0,009), number of patients with dominant side hemiplegia (p=0,004), and number of patients with a MMSE score higher than 24 cut-off score (p=0,001) were higher in patients with right hemiplegia than patients with left hemiplegia. Mean scores of lower extremity Brunnstrom Motor Recovery stage (p=0,049), MMSE (p=0,001), BI (p=0,005), SF-36 General Health (p=0,009) and SATIS (p=0,032) of patients with right hemiplegia were lower than patients with left hemiplegia. As a conclusion, in this study it has been found that as time since stroke increases satisfaction level decreases, quality of life and satisfaction level particularly decrease in patients with elderly age and impaired motor and cognitive functions. In patients with right hemiplegia general health and satisfaction levels after stroke were lower than left hemiplegic patients as well as higher cognitive impairment and restrictions in daily living activities. Keywords:Stroke, Hemiplegia, Quality of Life, Satisfaction