The Impact of a Hand Training Programme in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Qualitative Analysis of Participant Perceived Benefits

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in Canada. Community-based training programs are a frequently used means of rehabilitation in stroke. Eight participants were recruited (three female) aged between 55 and 82 (M=69.38, SD=9.75), with a length of time post stroke between 5 and 120 months (M=27.67). All participants completed a 6-week hand training program using a novel haptic indirect-feedback hand function device. Individual interviews with the participants were conducted following the completion of the program. A qualitative analysis of individual interviews determined that there are several components of participants' perceived benefits. These components include a sense of community, companionship, functional improvements, and motivation. This is reflective of past research in the area of community training programs, and the results from this study support this approach.