Impact Of Nurse-Directed Interventions On Multidimensional Wellbeing And Functional Dependence Among Stroke Survivors : A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Stroke remains a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, with significant impacts on physical function, cognitive abilities, and quality of life. This quasi-experimental study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led intervention on multidimensional wellbeing and functional dependence among stroke survivors. Sixty patients from the Neuro medicine  Department at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai were recruited and allocated into experimental and control groups. The intervention group underwent organised educational sessions focused on muscle strengthening exercises, symptom management, and medication compliance, whereas the control group received conventional care. Data was collected via the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) and Functional Independence Measure Scale (FIMS) prior to and subsequent to the 21-day intervention. Baseline characteristics were comparable across groups. Post-intervention analysis revealed a significant improvement in the experimental group's multidimensional wellbeing (mean score increased from 46.53to 78.73; p = 0.001) and functional dependence (from 39.05 to 64.84; p = 0.001), whereas changes in the control group were minimal and statistically non-significant. Additionally, post-test scores showed significant associations with age, residence, and illness duration. These findings confirm that nurse-led educational interventions can substantially enhance multidimensional wellbeing and functional dependence, especially those with shorter disease duration and urban residency. This approach emphasizes the role of nurses in chronic illness management and advocates for integrating such interventions into routine care to promote physical functions and quality of life.