Abstract
BACKGROUND: Stroke remains a major global health issue, especially for younger women, who often face poorer rehabilitation outcomes. While current stroke rehabilitation programmes address general recovery needs, they may not fully meet the unique physical, psychological and long-term challenges encountered by younger women. AIMS: This study aimed to develop a stroke rehabilitation framework specifically for younger women, incorporating insights from both stroke survivors and healthcare professionals. METHODS: A qualitative, multi-phase study utilising Arksey and O'Malley's framework methodology gathered data from younger women stroke survivors (18-64 years old) through snowball sampling and healthcare professionals via purposive sampling. Focus groups and interviews were conducted, and thematic analysis synthesised the insights to inform a tailored stroke rehabilitation framework. RESULTS: Five younger women stroke survivors (mean age = 40) and five healthcare professionals participated in the study. The MENTOR HUB framework was developed, incorporating key components: Monitoring, Education, Navigation, Tools, Ongoing Support, Recovery, Holistic Care, User-centred Approach and Be-continuous. CONCLUSIONS: The MENTOR HUB framework integrates the lived experiences of stroke survivors with professional healthcare insights, offering a holistic, user-centred approach to rehabilitation. It emphasises the importance of continuous support and personalised care. Further research is necessary to evaluate its effectiveness in clinical practice.