Effectiveness of Integrated Nursing Strategies on Clinical Outcomes and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients with Stroke: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND

Stroke remains a leading cause of disability worldwide, significantly impairing motor function, activities of daily living (ADL), swallowing function, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Comprehensive nursing-led interventions may improve these outcomes, yet empirical evidence from controlled trials in Indian hospital settings is limited.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of integrated nursing strategies on clinical outcomes and HRQoL among patients with stroke.

METHODS

A true experimental pretest-posttest control group design was adopted. Thirty patients with acute stroke admitted to selected hospitals in Salem were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) receiving integrated nursing strategies and a control group (n = 15) receiving routine hospital care. Clinical outcomes assessed included blood pressure and blood sugar control, motor function, ADL, and swallowing function. HRQoL was also evaluated. Statistical analysis involved chi-square tests, paired and independent t tests.

RESULTS

Post-intervention, the experimental group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in blood pressure and blood sugar control (P < 0.001), motor function (P < 0.001), ADL (P < 0.001), swallowing function (P < 0.001), and HRQoL (P < 0.001) compared to the control group. No significant differences were observed between groups at baseline.

CONCLUSION

Integrated nursing strategies were effective in improving both clinical outcomes and HRQoL among patients with stroke. The findings support the feasibility and potential efficacy of structured nursing-led interventions, warranting validation through a large-scale trial.