Holistic Quality of Life in Stroke Survivors across disparate Cultures

This book describes the development and validation of the first holistic measure of quality of life in stroke patients based on a unique holistic model of life, its domains and purpose. The health-related quality of life in stroke patients (HRQOLISP) has good face, content, construct and discriminant validity and internal consistency reliability in diverse cultures and countries. Stroke, even in mild cases, has a multidimensional effect on quality of life which is most pronounced in the physical dimension. The consistent predictors of HRQOL are stroke severity, laughter frequency (and negative feelings frequency), and satisfactory relationships. The sparing of the spiritual dimension of HRQOL and its higher importance rating in stroke patients may be exploited to provide support, healing and initiation of positive adjustments for the other aspects of life in order to achieve and maintain purposeful and meaningful life despite the stroke-induced physical impairment. This is the origin of the stroke recovery cycle.