PURPOSE This cross-sectional survey research was undertaken to identify the factors influencing time from onset to hospital arrival of stroke patients and to provide basic information for the development of intervention programs for stroke patients. METHODS The data were collected using a convenient sampling method from three hospitals in Inchon. The subjects were 78 patients who were diagnosed as stroke by doctor and they voluntarily participated in the study. RESULTS On the average, subjects arrived at the hospitals by 16.72 hours after the onset of stroke events with the range from 0.17 hours to 72 hours. Thirty-four(43.6%) subjects arrived within 3 hours which can maximize treatment effects. There was significant difference in hospital presentation time according to the level of knowledge(chi-square=18.629, p=.0003). A negative correlation was found between the hospital presentation time and self-efficacy (r= -.320, p=.004). Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the most powerful predictor was self-efficacy. Self-efficacy, the level of knowledge and physical symptoms were significant factors and accounted for 21.7% of the variance of hospital presentation time in stroke patients. CONCLUSION According to the results, self-efficacy is a useful concept for reducing the hospital presentation time from onset of attack in stroke patients. Therefore, nurses should consider educational programs which include not only a knowledge of stroke and recurrence prevention but also the concept of self-efficacy.
PURPOSE This study was performed to identify the prevalence and type of urinary incontinence (UI) after a stroke, to find the differences in urinary symptoms according to continence or incontinence, and to find the degree of impact of UI on daily life. METHOD For data collection, we had a structured interview with a questionnaire. The subjects were 239 post stroke patients. RESULTS Among the subjects(mean age: 65 +/- 10), 66.1 percent had an infarction, and 25.5 percent had a hemorrhage. And 26.4 percent of subjects were within 2 weeks and 28.9 percent from 1 year to 5 years since their episodes of a stroke. Forty five point six percent of subjects had various types of UI: urge 25.7 percent, stress 14.7 percent, functional 20.2 percent, and mixed 39.4 percent. There were significant differences in frequency, nocturia, decreased stream, and incomplete emptying between the incontinent and continent groups. Subjects reported UI influenced various aspect of daily life, 54.1 percent as cause of distress, 53.2 percent on overall quality of life, and 40.4 percent on sleep. The Mixed UI, including urge UI, had higher impact on daily life than others. CONCLUSION There was a high prevalence of UI, mixed, urge, and functional type as most prevalent, and it had a strong impact on daily life of post stroke patients.