Journal of Progressive Medicine and Health Care

Abstract

Surviving a stroke is a painful process, so externalizing negative feelings and thoughts allows for finding alternative narratives for one's life story. The use of narrative therapy enables distancing oneself from the problem and finding alternative meanings. Online social support groups (hybrid care communities) promote encounters with others who have gone through or are going through the same experience.

Aims: To increase knowledge about the impact of narrative therapy on a population of stroke survivors using social networks, specifically WhatsApp. To present an innovative view on how online communities for stroke survivors can facilitate contact with individuals in similar situations, promoting belonging, support, and greater overall emotional well-being. Methodology: Nine months of messages sent to a WhatsApp group composed of 14 members will be analyzed. The analysis will be carried out using two narrative assessment instruments: the Narrative Content and Multiplicity Assessment Manual and the Narrative Process and Complexity Assessment Manual. A comparison will also be made between the narratives and the daily results of the Google form "Queijinho".

Results: The presence of multiplicity and overall satisfactory narrative content was evidenced. Regarding the results of the Google form "Queijinho", most elements are in emotional state 4 or 5.

Conclusions: The WhatsApp group made it possible to develop a dynamic community with better emotional adaptation. Constant sharing fostered feelings of belonging, acceptance, and encouragement, higher levels of insight, and reinterpretation of common traumatic events. In short, the results demonstrate some effectiveness of using narrative therapy in promoting higher levels of physical and psychological well-being.