Stroke is a major cause of life-long disability throughout
the world. It affects everyday life and quality of life for
both the stroke victims and their next of kin.
In Sweden, 34 000 people experience a stroke each
year, and 20% of them die in the first 3 months (1). Of
those who survive, many end up with physical as well as
cognitive impairments (2–4). These impairments are
associated with restrictions in activities and participation
(5, 6), and have a negative effect on quality of life for
the stroke survivors and their caregivers (7–9). Earlier
research has shown that the most important factors influencing
quality of life after stroke are age, depression, and
physical outcome (10, 11). Several studies using
questionnaires or registers have shown that better
outcome after stroke is associated with higher patient
satisfaction with care and rehabilitation (12–15). The
International Classification of Functioning, Disability and
Health (ICF) (16) can be used as a framework to describe
the impact of illness on an individual in terms of health
and disability. The ICF provides a possibility to describe
not just functioning but also contextual and personal
factors.