Delivery styles and formats for different stroke information topics: Patient and carer preferences

OBJECTIVE: To identify the preferences of patients with stroke and their carers for format and delivery style, of different categories of stroke information, and whether these preferences changed over time.

METHODS: A semi-structured questionnaire, designed to explore preferences for four topic categories was administered to 34 acute stroke unit patients and 18 carers prior to discharge and again, 3 months after discharge to 27 of these patients and 16 of these carers.

RESULTS: Overall format preferences were a combination of face-to-face, written and telephone for both patients and carers prior to discharge. This combination continued for carers following discharge, while patients preferred face-to-face, written and alternative formats of online and audiovisual at this time. Patients and carers most frequently preferred delivery styles appeared to be a mix of active and passive delivery styles, across all topics. Access to a telephone hotline was a popular delivery style.

CONCLUSION: Patient and carer preferences varied, supporting the need to offer a variety of formats and delivery styles at each point of contact.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: By focusing on specific formats and delivery styles for different topics, health professionals may maximise the access to, and relevance of, stroke information for patients and their carers.