Introduction

Early Supported Discharge (ESD) intervention can be offered within stroke care to provide specialist rehabilitation in home environment. Using eHealth in ESD could open up perspectives and possible enhance rehabilitation process within stroke care. 

The purpose of this study is to explore whether eHealth would be feasible within ESD  interventions in stroke patients, through investigating ESD stroke survivors’ use of technical devices and interest towards a potential digital application that may have supported their rehabilitation. 

Method

A convenience sample were used in Malmö/Lund, and 56 stroke survivors were recruited.  Data was collected through a survey and mainly descriptive analysis of the collected data was presented to explore overall usage. 

Result

Forty-eight stroke survivors aged 34-91 years participated. Technical devices were used both pre/post stroke in daily life. Fatigue had an impact on usage, but majority had no symptoms that affected use of technology.  Sixty-two percent (n=30) managed their technology post stroke independently. Over 70% (n=34) reported they would consider using a potential application to support them in their rehabilitation.

Conclusion

Many ESD stroke patients use technical devices and were likely technology as part of their rehabilitation if they perceived that it could have supported them in their rehabilitation.