Adherence to Home-Based Exercise among Stroke Patients: A survey of Family Caregivers Perspectives in Central Region of Malaysia

Background: Home-based exercise is important to improve and urge stroke survivors to keep an ideal degree of physical activity post-hospitalization. This study aimed to assess the adherence to home-based exercise among stroke survivors in the central region of Malaysia from the perspective of family caregivers. Methods: Cross-sectional survey was conducted among 54 the family caregivers of stroke patients from general hospitals in central region of Malaysia using convenience sampling technique. The respondents received a survey consisting of questions on demography, level of stroke disability and adherence to home-based exercises. Results: 74.1% of the respondents reported that the stroke patients in their care were adherent to the prescribed home-based exercises. The Pearson’s Chi-Square analysis showed significant correlation between the level of adherence to home-based exercises with the timing of prescription given by the physiotherapists whereas no correlation with the stroke patients’ degree of disability. Conclusion: From the perspective of family caregivers, most of the stroke patients in central region of Malaysia received and adhered to the prescribed home-based exercises.