AN INVESTIGATION OF INVOLVEMENT IN LEISURE ACTIVITIES AFTER A STROKE

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of occupational therapy intervention related to the leisure activities of stroke survivors. Forty discharged stroke patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group, which received occupational therapy intervention related to leisure activities, or to a control group. An independent evaluator assessed the patients' involvement in activities and satisfaction with that involvement on three separate occasions. The results showed no statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups in activity involvement or satisfaction with that involvement. There are likely two reasons for these findings. First, the intervention was limited in scope (i.e., only five therapist visits), and second, many environmental factors strongly influence activity participation and satisfaction.