Background:  Role-play as a component of experiential learning is an effective tool to enhance understanding of basic hemiplegic care; and thus recommended as a teaching strategy to health care providers. Following prior successful series of workshop on basic hemiplegic experiential learning to health care providers, we constructed a continuum session for caregivers to individuals with strokes.

Method: Illustrative report on the use of role-play to improve caregivers’ understanding and awareness on important aspects of hemiplegic care.

Illustrative Report: ‘Stroke for An Hour’ is a role-play session specifically designed for stroke caregivers to improve awareness on how it feels to physically experience stroke with hemiplegia. In addition, the session aim to instil the importance of preventing hemiplegic-related complications and improving independence. Low-cost material were utilized to simulate role-play activities in a ‘hemiplegic’ manner. Sessions with catchy apt names eg ‘Single Magic Hand’, ‘Express Your Need’ and ‘Now You See...Now You Don’t’  highlighted on hemiplegic positioning, mobility, activities of daily living, functional communication and unilateral neglect.

Results: Narrative response showed increased level of basic understanding of hemiplegia. There was positive response in favour of utilizing role -play as an adjunct to structured caregiver training program.
 
Conclusion: Caregivers play an important part in the rehabilitation program of stroke survivors. Role-play is an effective learning tool to promote acquisition of basic knowledge and enhance understanding of basic hemiplegic care. This is recommended as a strategy to improve awareness amongst caregivers of stroke survivors.

‘STROKE FOR AN HOUR’ : USING ROLE - PLAY TO ENHANCE KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS AMONG CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH STROKE