Rehabilitation in the home versus the hospital: the importance of context.

Purpose: Stroke rehabilitation has received increased attention in the past decade. Recent trials with new alternatives such as home-based rehabilitation services are being conducted. The purpose of the study was to explore differences between a therapy session with a stroke patient in two different contexts, i.e. in the patient's home and in the hospital.

Methods: The research design was a qualitative case study. Three data collection methods were used; participant observations of therapy sessions in two different contexts, semi-structured interviews and documents.

Results: The data were examined and coded for common categories. Analysis of the data looking for similarities and differences in behaviour of two therapists and their patients during therapy sessions in the hospital and in the home was performed. The observations revealed that there was clearly a difference in behaviour; a different role-set used by the two therapists when working in the patient's home versus in the hospital. The major difference in patient behaviour was that the patient, observed in his home, took the initiative and expressed his goals, which was not the case with the patients observed in the hospital. The findings were confirmed in the interviews and the documents.

Conclusion: It is suggested that the context is a key component to be considered in the rehabilitation process of stroke patients.