“Wasting time”: a qualitative study of stroke survivors’ experiences of boredom in non-therapy time during inpatient rehabilitation

 Stroke survivors should have zero downtime during their hospital stay. That is the complete responsibility of your stroke doctor. If s/he is not up to the task fire them.  Blaming  needing to redesign the rehabilitation environment  is complete fucking stupidity. The blame lies directly on the doctor.

You could have at least come up with other therapies to fill their complete day with practicing something. 

Like maybe:

1. action observation (103 posts to May 2011)

2. music(86 posts to March 2011)

3. music therapy (52 posts to October 2014)

4. musical training (13 posts to June 2014)

5. meditation (48 posts to January 2012)

6. lucid dreaming (16 posts to January 2013) 

7. mirror box (9 posts to October 2010)

8. mirror therapy (64 posts to October 2012)

   If your stroke hospital can't figure out how to fill a complete day with rehab;THEY ARE COMPLETELY FUCKING INCOMPETENT!
   

   The latest here:

“Wasting time”: a qualitative study of stroke survivors’ experiences of boredom in non-therapy time during inpatient rehabilitation

Katrina Kenah

,

Meredith Tavener

,

Julie Bernhardt

,

Neil J. Spratt

&

Heidi Janssen

Received 06 Dec 2022, Accepted 23 Jun 2023, Published online: 06 Jul 2023

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• https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2023.2230131
• CrossMark

In this article

• Abstract
• IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Acknowledgements
• Disclosure statement
• Additional information
• References

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Abstract

Purpose

Stroke survivors regularly report experiencing boredom during inpatient rehabilitation which may detrimentally affect mood, learning and engagement in activities important for functional recovery. This study explores how stroke survivors meaningfully occupy their non-therapy time and their experiences of boredom, to further our understanding of this complex phenomenon.

Methods

Secondary analysis of transcripts from semi-structured interviews with stroke survivors exploring activity during non-therapy time. Transcripts were coded and analysed using a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive thematic analysis, guided by a published boredom framework.

Results

Analysis of 58 interviews of 36 males and 22 females, median age 70 years, revealed four main themes: (i) Resting during non-therapy time is valued, (ii) Managing “wasted” time, (iii) Meaningful environments support autonomy and restore a sense of normality, and (iv) Wired to be social. Whilst limited therapy, social opportunities and having “nothing to do” were common experiences, those individuals who felt in control and responsible for driving their own stroke recovery tended to report less boredom during their rehabilitation stay.

Conclusion

Creating rehabilitation environments that support autonomy, socialisation and opportunities to participate in activity are clear targets to reduce boredom during non-therapy time, increase meaningful engagement and possibly improve rehabilitation outcomes post-stroke.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Stroke survivors with a low sense of autonomy are at greater risk of boredom and may benefit from person-centred strategies to support participation in meaningful activities during non-therapy time whilst undertaking inpatient rehabilitation.

• Review and reduction of paternalistic practices within traditional models of care, to increase patient autonomy, may empower stroke survivors to drive their own activity and reduce boredom.

• The redesign and reorganisation of rehabilitation environments to increase opportunities for socialisation and access to nature and the outdoors may reduce boredom during inpatient rehabilitation.