36^th European Neurology Congress

Biography

Biography: Angela Gnanadurai

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke is the greatest cause of disability in adults. 25% of strokes affect people of working age, yet under 50% return to work after stroke. There has been not many studies in India and only very little investigation into what constitutes” return to work” following stroke. The aim of this study is to describe the work metric of stroke survivors.

Methods: Prospective analysis of data collected from patients who were diagnosed to have stroke for 12 months. The matric on work status, working hours, work place, accommodations and costs were gathered through telephonic questionnaires at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months post stroke period for 50 stroke patients. Patients were randomized to receive vocational rehabilitation (intervention or usual care (control).

Result: Two thirds (34 (68%) of participants return to work at some point in the 12 months following stroke. Participants took a mean of 100 days to return to work. Most return to work. Most returned to same role with an existing employer. Only one third (17(33%) of the participants who were employed full time at stroke onset were working full time at 12 months post stroke. More participants experienced a reduction in pre stroke earnings. Work place accommodations were more common among interventional group participants. More participants from interventional group than control group reported satisfaction with work at 6 and 12 months post stroke.

Conclusion: This study illustrates that there are two patterns in nature of return to work among patients with stroke and a very severe impact of stroke on work status, working hours and income. More longitudinal researches are needed to explore the socioeconomic legacy of stroke and include clear definitions of work and accurate measures of working hours and income from all sources.

Key words: Stroke, Rehabilitation, Return to work.