Impact of post-stroke disability and disability-perception on health-related quality of life of stroke survivors: the moderating effect of disability-severity.

Objective: The influence of disability-perception on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains unclear. This study investigated impact of disability and disability-perception on HRQoL of stroke survivors and explores the moderating effect of disability-severity.

Methods: Post-stroke disability, disability-perception/acceptance and HRQoL were assessed in 102 stroke survivors using the World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule, Attitudes towards Disabled Persons Form-A and Short Form-36, respectively.

Results: There was significant disability score of at least 42 in the participants with severe disability accounting for 76.5% while 52% of them having positive disability-perception. Although no sex difference exists in their HRQoL, their score was just fair (46.1 ± 1.9) with their physical health being most affected. Severe disability impacted negatively on their HRQoL but disability-perception had no significant effect except in 'role limitation due to the emotional problem' domain. Only severe disability moderated the effects of disability on the overall HRQoL ( change = 3.2%; = 0.018). Disability-severity (mild/moderate and severe disability) moderated the effects of disability level on their physical health ( change = 3.1% and 6%; = 0.012 and 0.0001, respectively).

Conclusion: Significant disability exists among stroke survivors and impaired their HRQoL while disability-severity moderating the effect. More stroke survivors have positive attitude towards their disability and impact positively on their physical health.