Background: Stroke is a debilitating neurological disorder, which causes multiple physical and psychosocial
challenges to people surviving a stroke. Effective discharge planning program is an active process beginning in
hospitalization care and has a goal of returning to the community and aims at assisting the patients to recapture
their functional independence and to return to an active and productive lifestyle. Aim: was to evaluate effect of a
design discharge planning program for stroke patients on their quality of life and activity of daily living.
Research design: Quasi experimental design was utilized to fulfill the aim of this study. Setting: The study was
conducted at the stroke department and stroke outpatient clinics affiliated to Benha University Hospital. Sample:
A convenience sample of 50 patients admitted at the above mentioned setting and diagnosed with stroke. Tools:
Three tools were used: I-Patients Interviewing questionnaire sheet; II-Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale and
III- Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living. Results: the present study revealed that (a) the mean total and
subtotal knowledge scores of stroke patients were increased immediately after implementing a design discharge
planning program with statistical significant difference compared to pre implementation. (b) The mean total and
subtotal quality of life scores were higher after implementing discharge planning program with a high statistical
significant difference compared to pre implementation. (c) The mean total and subtotal activity of daily living
scores were higher after implementing discharge planning program with a high statistical significant difference
compared to pre implementation. (d) There were a positive correlation between patients' knowledge, quality of
life and activity of daily living with a statistical significant difference. So, all research hypotheses of the study
were supported. Conclusion: Applying a design discharge planning program had statistically significant
improvement on knowledge, quality of life and activity of daily living for studied patients. Recommendations:
replication of this study on a larger probability sample and evaluating its impact on health outcomes among
stroke patients.