Quality of life in stroke survivor-caregiver dyads: a new conceptual framework and longitudinal study protocol

Aim. To describes a new conceptual framework and the research protocol of a study designed to examine the quality of life in stroke survivors-caregiver dyads. Background. Stroke has a significant impact on the patient-caregiver dyad. Few studies have been guided by a specific conceptual framework which considers the interactions among pre-existing situations prior to stroke, the new situation caused by the stroke and the moderating effects of environmental and caregiver-related variables. Methods. A longitudinal design will be used to study a sample of stroke survivor-caregiver dyads. Dyads will be enrolled at patient discharge from rehabilitation hospitals and will be surveyed every three months for one year. Hypotheses generated from the conceptual framework will test predictors, mediators and moderators of stroke survivor and caregiver quality of life from the pre-existing situation prior to the stroke, the new situation mediation post-stroke and situation moderators. The study is supported by a grant from the Centre of Excellence for Nursing Scholarship, Rome, December 2013. Discussion. This study seeks to identify variables in the pre-existing situation prior to the stroke (e.g. living condition), the new situation mediation post-stroke (e.g. type of stroke and caregiver burden) as well as situation moderators (e.g. social support) that influence stroke survivors and caregiver dyad’s quality of life across the stroke trajectory. Also, the study will inform clinical practice. The proposed framework may be helpful for future research focused on stroke survivor-caregiver dyads.