STROKE LITERACY AMONG STROKE SURVIVORS' FAMILY CAREGIVERS

Stroke literacy among family caregivers of stroke survivors is important to avoid stroke and manage the situation after stroke. The stroke often causes serious health problems; therefore, the patient's family members are usually those who guide his/her stroke treatment and rehabilitation process, do homecare and prevent stroke recurrence. Accordingly, qualitative and clear information as well as skills in obtaining, evaluating and using it are important competences for caregivers. The aim of this study is to better understand stroke literacy among family caregivers of stroke survivors in Latvia, with a focus on information sources family caregivers used, on issues family caregivers feel the most / least informed about. The research object is stroke survivors' family caregivers. Two methods - survey and qualitative content analysis - were applied in this study. Total of 51 caregiver in the survey completed a self-administered questionnaire, and 100 articles in the Internet have been analysed. The study results show that the Internet is an important source to obtain information about stroke and caregivers who search information on the Internet feel less informed about several stroke related issues. Study results also indicate many cases when caregivers had not obtained or had not understood the information provided by doctors, as well as show the limited amount of useful information about stroke treatment, rehabilitation, and support.