Rehabilitation programs for people with post-stroke cognitive impairment: integrative literature  review

Sandra Antunes; Célia Campos; Marta Barreto; Patrícia Araújo; Tânia Rodrigues

doi:10.33194/rper.2025.37668

Authors

Sandra Antunes Unidade Local de Saúde de São João, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2814-583X
Célia Campos Unidade Local de Saúde de Santo António, E.P.E.
Marta Barreto Unidade Local de Saúde de Santo António, E.P.E.
Patrícia Araújo Unidade Local de Saúde de São João, E.P.E.
Tânia Rodrigues Escola Superior de Saúde Santa Maria; CINTESIS, Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias e Serviços de Saúde https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4785-3783

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33194/rper.2025.37668

Keywords:

Cognitive Rehabilitation, Cognitive Impairment, Stroke, Nursing Rehabilitation, Integrative Review

Abstract

Introduction: Due to the high number of people with post-stroke cognitive impairment, there is a growing need to implement cognitive rehabilitation programs so that they can regain functionality.

Objective: Identify the available evidence on cognitive rehabilitation programs for people with stroke.

Methodology: Integrative literature review, carried out on the EBSCOhost aggregator, with predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Results: Six studies were included out of a total of 2327 identified. Cognitive rehabilitation programs were categorized into rehabilitation programs in the acute phase (inpatient, in individual sessions); in the subacute phase (in a group and outpatient setting, adding Reminiscence Therapy); and in the chronic phase (group and outpatient), only aimed at rehabilitation of attention (visual and auditory).

Conclusion: There is no consensus regarding the beginning, frequency, duration, evaluation and type of interventions applied in the rehabilitation programs found. However, it is important to screen the person for cognitive deficits after a stroke, even if they apparently do not exist. The improvement in cognition is more evident when cognitive rehabilitation is carried out in the acute and subacute phases through neural plasticity, but also in the chronic phase, meaning it should continue months or years after the injury. The specialist nurse in rehabilitation nursing has skills that allow it to assess cognitive function and, depending on the deficits identified, develop a personalized cognitive rehabilitation program with a view to the recovery of the person with a stroke.

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