Education to Improve Stroke Awareness and Emergent Response

Delay in Presentation and Evaluation for Acute Stroke

“…The use of an ambulance was associated with earlier arrival at the ED than self-transportation or family transportation in this and previous studies. [15][16][17]26,29 A study of arrival time in patients with myocardial infarction yielded similar results. 27 In addition, 78% of patients who had a history of Ն2 cardiac diagnoses used an ambulance compared with 61% of patients without a history of heart disease.…”

“…This may be due to failure to recognize signs and symptoms or lack of awareness of potential treatment benefits. 29 One prior study found that patients Ͼ65 years of age were less likely to know the risk factors for stroke than were patients Յ65 years of age. 32 This study did not directly assess patient education or knowledge.…”

Comprehensive Overview of Nursing and Interdisciplinary Care of the Acute Ischemic Stroke Patient

“…Table 6 summarizes nursing care associated with thrombolysis and nonthrombolysis treatment of patients with acute cerebral ischemia on the basis of the original NIH-NINDS study protocol and AHA/ASA guidelines. 2,29,[83][84][85][86] …”

“…21 When recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) was approved as the first acute treatment for AIS, the paradigm of care of the stroke patient shifted, and emergency care of the stroke patient in the field emerged. 22 The role of time in determining treatment eligibility and patient outcome has generated a body of literature and knowledge about appropriate care for AIS patients, [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] from which healthcare providers have developed measures to quickly and easily identify and assess stroke patients. 46,47 Textbooks and training courses for EMTs and paramedics discuss stroke pathophysiology and identify stroke as a medical emergency.…”

Essential Features of a Surveillance System to Support the Prevention and Management of Heart Disease and Stroke

“…15 The lack of data has hindered efforts to increase the use of evidence-based therapies (eg, aspirin, ␤-blockers, and thrombolysis) for patients with myocardial infarction 16 and stroke 17 despite major efforts to disseminate knowledge of the effectiveness of these therapies. 18,19 The annual cost associated with CVD in the United States was estimated to be $403.1 billion for 2006. 3 This figure includes health expenditures such as costs of physician, hospital, and nursing home services, as well as lost productivity, but it is likely to be an underestimate because, especially for stroke, the informal care costs and costs of comorbidities may not be included.…”