Perceived Learning Needs for Rehabilitation Following Stroke

An ex post facto descriptive design was used to study the differences in perceived learning needs for the stroke patient during rehabilitation between rehabilitation team members and stroke patients. The theoretical framework for the study was similar to Donlon's (1983) two theories which were used to develop a tool to assess perceptions of learning needs. One theory was Maslow's (1970) theory of motivation and personality which emphasizes the importance of need satisfaction on an individualized basis and in a hierarchical order. The other theory was Knowles' (1978) theory of adult learning, andragogy, which stresses an individual's readiness to learn and importance of the material to the individual in order for learning to occur. The instrument used to assess the importance of learning needs was Donlon's "Questionnaire for Patients/Nurses." The hypothesis predicting a significant difference in scores on Donlon's questionnaire between rehabilitation team members and stroke patients was supported.