Social Isolation and Physical Barriers in the Houses of Stroke Survivors in Rural China.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To describe the home barriers and social isolation of stroke survivors in the rural areas of China and to explore which home barriers are associated with social isolation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Structured interviews and observation in the participants' homes. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling stroke survivors in the rural areas of China (N=818). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Physical barriers in rural homes were surveyed using a home fall hazards assessment. Social isolation was identified if ≥2 of the following indicators were observed low frequency of getting out of the home, lacking leisure activities, and living alone in the previous 3 months. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of 18 among 30 home barriers were >20%, and the highest was 93% (lack of handrails in the bathroom). The prevalence of social isolation was 30%. Three home barriers were independently related to social isolation. These were a distant toilet (odds ratio [OR], 2.363; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.527-3.658; P<.001), unsuitable seating (OR, 1.571; 95% CI, 1.026-2.404; P=.038), and inaccessible light switches (OR, 1.572; 95% CI, 1.064-2.324; P=.023). CONCLUSIONS: Many barriers exist in the houses of stroke survivors in rural China. Some of them are related to social isolation. Eliminating or decreasing home barriers could be a feasible and effective approach to reducing social isolation.