<![CDATA[Background: Stroke is characterized by a high risk of recurrence, with impacts that are often more severe than the initial attack. Therefore, a strong justification is needed for implementing structured discharge planning. This process is crucial in bridging the transition of care from the hospital to the home through systematic education for families, in order to prevent preventable stroke recurrences. Purpose: This study analyzes the effect of structured discharge planning on improving self-care and reducing the risk of recurrent stroke in post-stroke patients Methods: This quantitative study used a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design. A total sample of 70 patients who met the inclusion criteria was divided into an intervention group receiving structured discharge planning and a control group receiving conventional discharge planning. Self-care was measured using the Barthel Index, and the risk of recurrent stroke was measured using the Essen Stroke Risk Score (ESRS). The questionnaire data were then analyzed using parametric t-tests and ANOVA. Result: The study showed a significant increase in self-care levels in the intervention group (p<0.001), with the mean score increasing from 5.57 to 10.17. Meanwhile, the risk of recurrent stroke decreased significantly in the intervention group (p<0.001), shifting from high to moderate and low categories, while the control group remained at high risk. Implication: Structured discharge planning is an evidence-based health intervention that effectively increases patient independence and reduces the risk of recurrent stroke, not simply an administrative procedure. With its relatively low cost and significant clinical impact, this intervention deserves to be a national flagship program to shift the paradigm of stroke care from an acute-phase orientation to a patient-centered continuum of care]]>
