Loneliness post stroke in remote and rural Scotland
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the experiences of stroke survivors living alone in rural and remote areas of Scotland.
IRAS ID
257383
Contact name
Gail Carin-Levy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Margaret University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
This project will explore the subjective experiences of older stroke survivors living alone in remote communities in Scotland. Stroke survivors have reported a longing for social contact as well as a reduction in participation in shared activities (Northcott and Hilari 2011, Danzl et al. 2013), suggestive of potential loneliness and isolation in this population. People living rurally are likely to experience both conditions (Dwyer and Hardill, 2011) but there is an absence of literature exploring this unique experience in Scotland. \n \nThis project is aligned with Scottish Government strategies around improvement in stroke services (Scottish Government 2014), improvement of the healthcare provision and quality of life in rural areas (Scottish Government 2016) as well as attention being drawn to the issue of loneliness within the public health agenda (Scottish Government 2018). \n\nWe will employ a recent occupational therapy graduate as a Research Assistant (RA) who will carry out four interviews with stroke survivors in two rural locations within NHS Highlands. Access to participants will be facilitated via local clinicians (Gatekeeper) who will identify potential participants to be approached. The research will be narratively informed, employing thematic, participant-led analysis. The overall design adheres to a phenomenological approach to narrative research, one which foregrounds the lived experience of people at the front line of the phenomenon being studied (Finlay, 2014). This approach has demonstrated its unique value amongst those working with the intense and intangible experiences of ill health.\n
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
19/NS/0005
Date of REC Opinion
7 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion