Effects of a Goal-Oriented Intervention on Self-Management Behaviors and Self-Perceived Burden After Acute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Stroke generates significant health and social burdens. Self-management has potential importance for supporting individuals in coping and continuing to progress after stroke. However, there is a lack of targeted programs to enhance self-management and reduce self-perceived burden (SPB) following stroke. To evaluate the effects of a goal-oriented intervention on self-management behaviors and SPB among patients after acute stroke. This was a randomized controlled trial with a 4-weeks intervention. Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention ( = 48) or control group ( = 48). The intervention and control groups received eight sessions of goal-oriented self-management intervention based on Pender's health promotion model and control care, respectively. Self-management behaviors and SPB were evaluated and compared between the two groups. After the 1-month follow-up, there were significant differences in the total self-management behaviors score and the scores of six of the self-management dimensions, excluding diet management, between the intervention group and the control group ( = -7.891- -2.815; ≤ 0.006). Compared to the control group, the intervention group showed a significant decrease in the physical burden, emotional burden, and total SPB scores ( = 2.102-2.071; = 0.015-0.041). The economic burden score was not significantly different between the two groups ( = 1.707; = 0.091). The goal-oriented intervention based on Pender's health promotion model can effectively improve self-management behaviors and reduce physical and emotional SPB among stroke survivors.