Psychosocial Outcomes for Patients and Carers After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage
Authors: Pritchard, C., Foulkes, L.M., Lang, D.A. and Neil-Dwyer, G.
Journal: British Journal of Neurosurgery
Volume: 15
Pages: 456-463
ISSN: 0268-8697
DOI: 10.1080/02688690120097679
Abstract:As part of a 'clinical governance' initiative, a patient/carer led study was designed to determine the psychosocial outcome of a consecutive cohort of 137 aneurysmal sub-arachnoid haemorrhage (ASAH) patients of whom 45% had experienced a severe haemorrhage. Most patients were middle class (51%), female (63%), aged under 54 years (53%) and 30% had school-age children. Information booklets did not meet the need for case-specific answers and communication problems were identified despite the high rating of in-patient treatment. Substantial problems occurred after discharge because of a hiatus in care and support by community-based services. Carers carried major psychosocial burdens, fifty-one per cent reporting that their work was negatively affected, and after a year, employment cost to carers was #182,000 and #590,000 for patients. 11% of patients lost their jobs as a direct consequence of the ASAH. A cost-feasible solution to improve the communication-support problems was identified by these 'consumers'.
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all?content=10.1080/02688690120097679
Source: Manual