Solving the issue of patient arrival time: a call for vigilant action

The effect of motivational interviewing after ischemic stroke on patient knowledge and patient satisfaction with care: a pilot study

Knowledge of the warning signs of stroke may reduce the incidence of having a second stroke by receiving medical intervention in a timely manner. The need for stroke education is paramount to empower stroke patients to recognize the signs and symptoms of an impending stroke. The purpose of this pilot study was to develop and to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational method of providing stroke education in an acute care setting. Twenty patients were recruited and randomized to two groups. Group 1 received the standard of care: verbal and written education at the time of discharge by the discharge nurse. Group 2 received individualized protocol-driven verbal and written education with their caregiver present within the context of the Therapeutic Alliance Model using motivational interviewing techniques. Each group was sent a Stroke Knowledge Test and a patient satisfaction survey at 1 month. Results indicate that the enhanced education group received improved scores on the Stroke Knowledge Test and had better patient satisfaction scores regarding stroke education. An enhanced educational method using motivational interviewing and an individualized protocol-driven education intervention given to both the patient and a caregiver enhance stroke knowledge and patient satisfaction after discharge from the acute care setting.

There's more to transient ischaemic attack than ABCD

Several important studies have contributed to recent changes in clinical thinking regarding transient ischaemic attack (TIA). The use of risk stratification scores and urgent clinics has become popular and incorporated into recent guidelines, but there may be some pitfalls with this approach. This commentary stresses the need for careful individual patient assessment focussed on prompt determination of the underlying pathogenic mechanism for the TIA. Suggestions on how to incorporate assessment of TIA patients into the current duties of stroke units are made.

Methodologic challenges in the design and conduct of hyperacute stroke research

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of adult disability, consistently ranking in the top 10 of leading diagnostic categories encountered by practitioners in emergency and critical care settings. Despite its prevalence and clinical significance, only tissue plasminogen activator for ischemic stroke has been shown to reduce 3-month mortality and disability in phase III clinical trials, whereas for hemorrhagic stroke, no medicinal treatment has yet to demonstrate a similar reduction in mortality or disability. This article describes challenges inherent in the design and conduct of hyperacute stroke trials. Sample heterogeneity associated with pathophysiologic stroke mechanisms, the neurovascular territory implicated, systemic and intracranial hemodynamics, risk factor profiles, and patient access to requisite healthcare services are reviewed as contributors challenging enrollment into well-designed studies. Current controversies associated with designation of endpoints are presented and strategies to enhance trial design, and subsequent enrollment, are discussed. Recommendations are made for future clinical research into phenomena associated with hyperacute stroke.