Effect of intensive education on stroke prevention and management ability of community doctors: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Prevention and treatment of stroke are extremely important to reduce the incidence of stroke-related disability and the associated death. This study aimed to investigate the current ability of community doctors in stroke management in the Jinjiang district of Chengdu, China, and the effect of intensive education on stroke prevention and management ability of these doctors. Methods A self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate the current status of stroke management by community doctors in the Jinjiang district. Subsequently, a series of intensive stroke management education courses for community doctors was designed according to the relevant guidelines for cerebrovascular accident prevention and treatment in China. All community doctors were trained, and their ability to treat and prevent stroke was reassessed using the self-designed questionnaire. Results Of the 450 questionnaires issued, 370 (82.2%) and 389 (86.4%) community doctors were enrolled before and after intensive education, respectively. The results showed that only 37.8% of the community doctors in the Jinjiang district knew the guidelines for the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, and only 45.9% thought they had stroke management ability. The stroke management ability of community doctors improved after intensive education (p < 0.05), including pre-hospital identification and management of stroke, and management of its risk factors. Conclusions The capacity of community doctors in the Jinjiang district of Chengdu is far from meeting the requirements of stroke prevention and treatment. However, the stroke management ability of the community doctors was greatly improved by promoting intensive education.

Awareness and implementation of three high levels of conjoint management in patients with stroke by neurologists: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey from a tertiary general hospital in Southwest China

“…Some doctors failed to fully evaluate the three high conditions of inpatients with cerebral infarction and failed to emphasize the importance of reaching the three high standards for patients when they were discharged. Increasing the professional knowledge and training of physicians can signi cantly improve their ability to manage stroke, and providing regular knowledge updates for specialists is recommended [17]. Although most physicians knew the importance of the three-high conditions for patients with cerebral infarction, outpatient physicians could not conduct a detailed three-high evaluation of patients compared with inpatient physicians.…”

Awareness of Ischemic Stroke among Physicians in Primary Care and Emergency Departments

“…Our study revealed that physicians are largely aware of the risk factors of ischemic stroke, without any statistically significant difference between general practitioners (77%) and family physicians (83%). In a recent study conducted with family physicians, the proportion of physicians who knew the risk factors of stroke and how to manage them increased after training in stroke awareness (16). Failure to take timely, effective measures to curb stroke, however, will only increase death rates and the loss of the workforce due to CVDs, which will both affect public health and impose a heavy burden on the economy.…”

“…In a 2022 study investigating stroke management and the impact of education among primary care physicians, less than half (40.3%) of the participants knew the duration of thrombolytic therapy. After stroke education was provided, however, the rate increased to 61.0% (16). In a survey study conducted on knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding acute stroke among primary care physicians, approximately 75.0% of physicians claimed to practise were aware of thrombolytic therapy, but less than 50.0% knew the duration of such therapy.…”