Objectives:

Analyze whether the positioning is performed in an antispastic pattern in persons following a cerebrovascular accident (Stroke), which positions are most used and whether these decisions are influenced by the characteristics of patients or of the nurses.

Methodology:

Quantitative and cross-sectional study carried out in a hospital located in Northern of Portugal. The sample consists of the pattern positioning performed by nurses in persons following cerebrovascular accident, admitted to a neurology ward service. The sampling technique is a non-probability and was selected by convenience. Data collection took place between February and May 2019 using a form and observation of positions in an antispastic pattern.

Results:

Of the 376 positions, the most frequent was the supine (dorsal decubitus) position (n=152) and the least frequent the sitting position (n=28). The lateral decubitus position for the affected side obtained a higher average. The percentage of positioning with maximum classification, that is, with all body segments positioned in an antispastic pattern, was residual. Regarding the patients, the affected hemibody, spasticity and joint amplitude were significantly related to the classifications attributed to the positions. Regarding professional training, rehabilitation nurses positioned better in antispastic pattern in the supine position and in the lateral position to the unaffected side.

Conclusion:

During hospitalization, nurses do not systematically position persons following a stroke, in an anti-spastic pattern and the gaps identified in the positioning of various body segments require (re)thinking practices.

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