Exploring staff experience of an "enriched environment" within stroke rehabilitation: a qualitative sub-study.

Discussion: Staff perceived the use of an EE in their rehabilitation unit promoted activity/participation and increased patient moral. The barriers and enablers experienced by staff in this study may be used to inform the design and conduct of future studies investigating the efficacy of EE during inpatient stroke rehabilitation after stroke. Implications for Rehabilitation Results from animals models suggest that environmental enrichment (EE) is an important paradigm for consideration in stroke rehabilitation. It is concerning that many stroke survivors are inactive during their admission for inpatient stroke rehabilitation. Preliminary results suggest that rehabilitation nurses perceive that EE promoted patient activity/participation. Results highlight the importance of social support and participation in the ward environment and potential benefits for patient's mood levels. PMID: 24369101 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Disability and Rehabilitation - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Tags: Disabil Rehabil Source Type: research