A Qualitative Study on the Humanistic Care Needs of Patients with Stroke and Their Families

Background: International stroke care guidelines recommend the routine assessment and management of psychological and emotional problems in patients and their families after a stroke. This study aimed to explore the humanistic nursing needs of patients with stroke and their families and provide a basis for the construction of humanistic nursing practice guidelines for advanced stroke. Methods: From September to October 2019, using the descriptive phenomenological research method, a semi-structured interview outline was formed based on a literature review and subject group discussions. A targeted sampling method was used to investigate 21 patients with stroke and 21 family members, respectively, and their care needs were investigated in depth. Colaizzi's thematic cluster analysis was used to analyse the data, and a total of 6 themes and 14 sub-themes were summarised. Results: The 6 themes and 14 sub-themes were as follows: (1) psychological care, (2) security concerns (professional personal integrity, timely response), (3) emotional care (service consciousness, positive incentives, empathy, effective communication, provision of a communication platform, personalised care), (4) respect for rights, (5) rehabilitation care (rehabilitation programme, professional guidance, rehabilitation configuration, continuation of services) and (6) family care (physical and psychological support, care guidance). Conclusion: Among the humanistic care needs of patients with stroke and their families, the most basic physiological care accounts for the largest proportion of emotional and rehabilitation care, followed by safety care, respect for rights and family care. Based on the actual humanistic care needs of patients with stroke and their families, the practical effect of humanistic care in stroke wards can be improved. This study provides a reference for the construction of humanistic nursing practice guidelines for late stroke.