What are the effects of information provision for stroke survivors and their caregivers? A Cochrane Review summary with commentary

BACKGROUND: Stroke can lead to permanent and severe disability. Provision of information to stroke survivors and their carers could help them cope with consequences of stroke and aware of secondary prevention.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this Cochrane review was to assess the effects of active or passive information provision for stroke survivors or their carers.

METHODS: The population addressed in this review included stroke survivors, their carers, or both. The intervention studied was provision of active or passive information compared to standard care or where information and another therapy were compared with the other therapy alone, or where the comparison was between active and passive information provision. The primary outcomes were knowledge about stroke and stroke services, and anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that the active provision of information may improve stroke survivors stroke-related knowledge and quality of life. It may reduce the cases and symptoms of anxiety and probably depression. The effect of active information provision to carers and passive information provision is still unclear; however, passive information may worsen stroke patients' symptoms of anxiety and depression.