GEP Medicine in Society Handbook 2019/20

Aims

To introduce students to the effects of stroke, particularly in relation to mobility and to the part played by environmental factors, healthcare and other agencies in supporting the impaired person.

Preparatory work

Students should revise what they already know about the pathophysiology of stroke.  The current guidance on management of acute stroke can be found at Stroke-NICE Guidance. For an account of a linguists recovery from stroke and the impact on his life please read 'Me talk funny': A stroke patient's personal account.

The HealthTalk Online resource has a number of interviews with patients including some young stroke survivors including a young mother.

Learning objectives

By the end of the day, students should be able to:

• Discuss the impact of stroke on an individual and their family/carers and the role of voluntary agencies in providing support;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the effect of poor mobility on the individual; and the changes needed within the community e.g. access to public buildings and public transport, improvements to pavements etc.;
• Identify the member of the MDT that are important in assessment and care of patients with impaired mobility;
• Describe a health promotion intervention that can reduce the risk of stroke in an individual at risk e.g. blood pressure management, warfarin / aspirin in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Suggested Activities

• Tutorial on stroke including risk factors, health promotion interventions to reduce risk and consequences of stroke;
• Sit in with health care professional to observe health promotion interventions e.g. blood pressure monitoring with practice nurse or district nurse, home visit with health visitor for elderly people;
• Visit to voluntary agency proving support for people with impaired mobility e.g. stroke charity, wheelchair users group;
• Home visit to patient with mobility problems.  Interview patient about specific impact of loss of mobility;
• Debriefing Tutorial