Front Neurol. 2026 Oct 13;17:1861343. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2026.1861343. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recovery from stroke may often be incomplete, with unresolved issues persisting as unmet needs. However, the impact of these needs on both the health and wellbeing of people with stroke, subgroups, and their carers remains unclear.
OBJECTIVES: This scoping review of reviews aimed to provide an overview of evidence on unmet needs and their impact on the wellbeing of people living in the community with stroke.
METHODS: Relevant databases (14) were searched from 2,000 onwards and included systematic, scoping, and umbrella reviews meeting criteria related to population, concept, and context, and reporting quantitative and/or qualitative data.
RESULTS: Over 620 studies (including repeated studies across reviews) and 3.5 million participants were described in 28 eligible reviews. The needs and impacts were wide-ranging for the population as a whole and for sub-groups, e.g., with specific impairments (communication issues) or demographics (younger people who may have had a stroke or people who are culturally and linguistically diverse). No one framework covers the diversity of impacts on health and wellbeing-physical, emotional, and psychological health, as well as issues of relationships, inclusion, engagement, meaning, cultural and spiritual needs, financial, and other environmental domains.
CONCLUSION: Our findings provide important, often ignored insights and direction for people with stroke generally, as well as sub-groups. Ultimately, services and research should operate at multiple levels and address quality-of-life impacts, including social integration, sense of self, and life purpose.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: Review protocol registration: https://osf.io/efut8/.
PMID:42947682 | PMC:PMC13710001 | DOI:10.3389/fneur.2026.1861343