Recognize Stroke Symptoms Research Articles

What is Stroke Symptom Knowledge?

No commonly agreed definition exists for 'stroke symptom knowledge' among members of the general public. Recalling at least one correct stroke symptom has been used in the past. However, this criterion was not associated with rapid presentation to hospital. Rapid presentation is vital in order to provide effective acute stroke treatment. We sought to identify a base level of community stroke symptom knowledge associated with stroke recognition when symptoms occur, an immediate ambulance call, and 'stroke recognition and immediately calling an ambulance' as a single sequence of events. For six-months in 2004-2005, we identified all patients with stroke living in a defined region of Melbourne and who were transported by ambulance to one of the three hospitals. The person who called the ambulance (caller) was interviewed. One hundred ninety-eight patients were identified and 150 callers interviewed. Symptoms reported most frequently were limb weakness (67%), speech problems (57%), and facial weakness (24%). Reporting at least two of the symptoms - facial weakness, limb weakness, or speech problems (62% of callers) - was associated with stroke recognition (P = 0·004), immediately calling an ambulance (P = 0·065), and both 'stroke recognition and immediately calling an ambulance' (P = 0·053). Knowing at least two of the symptoms - facial weakness, limb weakness, and speech problems - appears to be an appropriate indicator of stroke symptom knowledge as it is associated with stroke recognition and appropriate action. Recognizing stroke symptoms and immediately calling an ambulance increase the potential to reduce prehospital time delays and improve eligibility of acute stroke patients for rapid treatment.

Emergency medical service in the stroke chain of survival

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) play a primordial role in the early management of adults with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role and effectiveness of the EMS in the stroke chain of survival in Marseille. A retrospective observational study was conducted in patients treated for AIS or transient ischaemic attack in three emergency departments and at the Marseille stroke centre over a period of 12 months. In 2009, of 1034 patients ultimately presenting a diagnosis of AIS or transient ischaemic attack, 74% benefited from EMS activation. Dispatchers correctly diagnosed 57% of stroke patients. The symptoms most frequently reported included limb weakness, speech problems and facial paresis. Elements resulting in misdiagnosis by dispatchers were general discomfort, chest pain, dyspnoea, fall or vertigo. Stroke patients not diagnosed by emergency medical dispatchers but calling within 3 h of symptom onset accounted for 20% of cases. Our study demonstrates that public intervention programmes must stress the urgency of recognizing stroke symptoms and the importance of calling EMS through free telephone numbers. Further efforts are necessary to disseminate guidelines for healthcare providers concerning stroke recognition and the new therapeutic possibilities in order to increase the likelihood of acute stroke patients presenting to a stroke team early enough to be eligible for acute treatment. In addition, EMS dispatchers should receive further training about atypical stroke symptoms, and 'Face Arm Speech Test' tests must be included in the routine questionnaires used in emergency medical calls concerning elderly persons.

Stroke awareness decreases prehospital delay after acute ischemic stroke in korea

BackgroundDelayed arrival at hospital is one of the major obstacles in enhancing the rate of thrombolysis therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Our study aimed to investigate factors associated with prehospital delay after acute ischemic stroke in Korea.MethodsA prospective, multicenter study was conducted at 14 tertiary hospitals in Korea from March 2009 to July 2009. We interviewed 500 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who arrived within 48 hours. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate factors influencing prehospital delay.ResultsAmong the 500 patients (median 67 years, 62% men), the median time interval from symptom onset to arrival was 474 minutes (interquartile range, 170-1313). Early arrival within 3 hours of symptom onset was significantly associated with the following factors: high National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, previous stroke, atrial fibrillation, use of ambulance, knowledge about thrombolysis and awareness of the patient/bystander that the initial symptom was a stroke. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that awareness of the patient/bystander that the initial symptom was a stroke (OR 4.438, 95% CI 2.669-7.381), knowledge about thrombolysis (OR 2.002, 95% CI 1.104-3.633) and use of ambulance (OR 1.961, 95% CI 1.176-3.270) were significantly associated with early arrival.ConclusionsIn Korea, stroke awareness not only on the part of patients, but also of bystanders, had a great impact on early arrival at hospital. To increase the rate of thrombolysis therapy and the incidence of favorable outcomes, extensive general public education including how to recognize stroke symptoms would be important.

Children in Minority Communities are Taught to Recognize Stroke Symptoms

Children in Minority Communities are Taught to Recognize Stroke Symptoms

Streamlining Stroke Care: From Symptom Onset to Emergency Department

Prehospital delays in the treatment of stroke patients, including identification of stroke as a medical emergency, represent a significant and preventable obstacle to optimal stroke care. Although patient delay in seeking care represents the greatest barrier to expedient care, delays often exist in the identification, transport, and triage of stroke patients. Public education in recognizing stroke symptoms as warranting immediate care and appropriate training of emergency medical service personnel are essential parts of community-wide, coordinated stroke care. In addition, emergency physicians must be engaged in the effort to limit delays if the rates of patients eligible for thrombolytic therapy are to improve. This review presents the common inadequacies in the prehospital identification and care for stroke patients and discusses changes within the community health care system that can be implemented to improve the critical early stages of stroke management.

Stroke Awareness Among Rural Residents

Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of death in the United States. There are modifiable and non-modifiable stroke risks and proper management of some of these risks could significantly reduce the risk of stroke incidence. However, proper management of stroke risks requires public awareness of these risks and awareness of appropriate approaches to managing them. In case of stroke incidence, it is also important for patients to be able to recognize stroke symptoms and get immediate emergency medical attention. In this article, stroke awareness is studied as awareness of stroke warning signs, proper management of stroke risks, and awareness of what to do in case of stroke. The article analyzes mail questionnaire responses from 1,114 West Virginia residents. Respondents were mostly not properly managing stroke risks such as diabetes and hypertension. There was also a lack of awareness of severe stroke symptoms such as loss of vision in one eye and sudden severe headache. While 83% of respondents reported that they would call 911 if they thought they were having a stroke, only 20% of respondents could correctly identify all stroke warning signs. The study has some limitations, but remains an important study of stroke awareness among rural residents in Appalachia.