Executive Function and Daily Living Skills in Young Women with Stroke

Abstract

Objectives

To examine cognitive challenges in young women poststroke, using a standardized survey.

Design

Survey.

Setting

General community/virtual setting.

Participants

Eight women aged 21-54 years old who had experienced a stroke. Population-based snowball sampling was used.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Daily Living Questionnaire.

Results

Results suggested that the cognitive skills most affected in this sample of young women after stroke are executive functions and executive function monitoring. Furthermore, the most frequently challenging tasks chosen from 52 daily activities included expressing thoughts and screening out background noises. Strong positive correlations were noted between 3 groups of variables: (a) between challenges in participants’ need and participants’ want to complete tasks in daily life, (b) between changes in participants’ responsibilities within their households and within their community/work, and (c) between changes in participants’ responsibilities within their households and general life changes since stroke.

Conclusions

This preliminary study brings to light the need to address cognitive challenges, especially executive function, in young women after stroke. This preliminary study builds the case for larger studies of a similar nature with more participants. It highlights a potential emerging area of occupational therapy practice that could become integral in traditional rehabilitation settings.

Disclosures

none.