Compliance with joint commission measures in state-designated stroke centers

An Intervention Mapping Approach to Developing a Stroke Literacy Video for Recent Stroke Survivors: Development and Usability Study

BACKGROUND

Most vascular events after stroke may be prevented by modifying vascular risk factors through medical and behavioral interventions. Stroke literacy-an understanding of stroke symptoms, risk factors, and treatment-likely contributes to vascular risk factor control and in turn stroke recurrence risk. Stroke literacy is the lowest among adults belonging to racial and ethnic minority populations in the United States. Video-based interventions targeting stroke literacy may help acute stroke survivors understand stroke and subsequently reduce the risk of stroke recurrence. However, the failure of prior stroke literacy interventions may be due in part to the fact that the interventions were not theory-driven. Intervention mapping (IM) provides a framework for use in the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-informed, health-related interventions.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to develop a video-based educational intervention to improve stroke literacy in hospitalized patients with acute stroke.

METHODS

The 6-step iterative process of IM was used to develop a video-based educational intervention and related implementation and evaluation plans. The six steps included a needs assessment, the identification of outcomes and change objectives, the selection of theory- and video-based intervention methods and practical applications, the development of a video-based stroke educational intervention, plans for implementation, and evaluation strategies.

RESULTS

A 5-minute video-based educational intervention was developed. The IM approach led to successful intervention development by emphasizing stakeholder involvement, generation and adoption, and information retainment in the planning phase of the intervention. A planned approach to video adoption, implementation, and evaluation was also developed.

CONCLUSIONS

An IM approach guided the development of a 5-minute video-based educational intervention to promote stroke literacy among acute stroke survivors. Future studies are needed to assess the use of technology and digital media to support widespread access and participation in video-based health literacy interventions for populations with acute and chronic stroke. Studies are needed to assess the impact of video-based educational interventions that are paired with stroke systems of care optimization to reduce the risk of stroke recurrence. Furthermore, studies on culturally and linguistically sensitive video-based stroke literacy interventions are needed to address known racial and ethnic disparities in stroke literacy.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

RR2-10.1371/journal.pone.0171952.

Geographic Analysis of Mobile Stroke Unit Treatment in a Dense Urban Area: The New York City METRONOME Registry

Background Mobile stroke units (MSUs) reduce time to intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke. Whether this advantage exists in densely populated urban areas with many proximate hospitals is unclear. Methods and Results We evaluated patients from the METRONOME (Metropolitan New York Mobile Stroke) registry with suspected acute ischemic stroke who were transported by a bi-institutional MSU operating in Manhattan, New York, from October 2016 to September 2017. The comparison group included patients transported to our hospitals via conventional ambulance for acute ischemic stroke during the same hours of MSU operation (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm). Our exposure was MSU care, and our primary outcome was dispatch-to-thrombolysis time. We estimated mean differences in the primary outcome between both groups, adjusting for clinical, demographic, and geographic factors, including numbers of nearby designated stroke centers and population density. We identified 66 patients treated or transported by MSU and 19 patients transported by conventional ambulance. Patients receiving MSU care had significantly shorter dispatch-to-thrombolysis time than patients receiving conventional care (mean: 61.2 versus 91.6 minutes; P=0.001). Compared with patients receiving conventional care, patients receiving MSU care were significantly more likely to be picked up closer to a higher mean number of designated stroke centers in a 2.0-mile radius (4.8 versus 2.7, P=0.002). In multivariable analysis, MSU care was associated with a mean decrease in dispatch-to-thrombolysis time of 29.7 minutes (95% CI, 6.9-52.5) compared with conventional care. Conclusions In a densely populated urban area with a high number of intermediary stroke centers, MSU care was associated with substantially quicker time to thrombolysis compared with conventional ambulance care.

Clinical Outcomes of Endovascular Thrombectomy in Tissue Plasminogen Activator versus Non-Tissue Plasminogen Activator Patients at Primary Stroke Care Centers

Background:

The effect of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) administration before endovascular intervention as compared to without at thrombectomy-capable low-volume centers on procedural aspects and patient outcomes has not been investigated.

Methods:

Retrospective chart review was performed in all consecutive large vessel cerebrovascular accident patients treated with endovascular therapy at two select rural primary stroke centers between 2011 and 2015. Patients’ data regarding age, sex, and medical history, as well as thrombus location by catheter-based cerebral angiography, postprocedural reperfusion status, and clinical outcomes were reviewed. The primary outcome measure of the study was a comparison of modified Rankin scale (MRS) at 90 days in patients’ postendovascular thrombectomy with prior IV tPA administration versus those who underwent thrombectomy and did not qualify for preprocedural IV tPA.

Results:

After application of the set inclusion and exclusion criteria, data of 46 out of 65 patients were analyzed. Twenty-three patients (50%) received IV tPA before thrombectomy and 23 patients did not qualify for IV tPA (50%). Successful recanalization (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2b/3) was achieved in 86% (20/23 patients) of thrombectomy patients without preprocedural IV tPA and 82% (19/23) of patients who received it (odds ratio [OR]: 0.03, confidence interval [CI]: 95% 0.062–0.16, P < 0.0001). MRS of 2 or less at 90 days was 43.4% (10/23) in patients with no preprocedural IV tPA and 39.1% (9/23) in the combined therapy group (OR: 0.84, CI: 0.26–2.70, P = 0.8).

Conclusion:

Patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion at select low-volume rural centers showed benefit from this treatment regardless of IV tPA administration. Clinical outcomes and complications at select low-volume thrombectomy-proficient centers are comparable to large volume comprehensive stroke centers as well as the landmark studies proving the efficacy of endovascular treatment.

Effectiveness of regionalized systems for stroke and myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are ischemic emergencies. Guidelines recommend care delivery within formally regionalized systems of care at designated centers, with bypass of nearby centers of lesser or no designation. We review the evidence of the effectiveness of regionalized systems in AIS and STEMI.

METHODS

Literature was searched using terms corresponding to designation of AIS and STEMI systems and from 2010 to the present. Inclusion criteria included report of an outcome on any dependent variable mentioned in the rationale for regionalization in the guidelines and an independent variable comparing care to a non- or pre-regionalized system. Designation was defined in the AIS case as certification by the Joint Commission as either a primary (PSC) or comprehensive (CSC) stroke center. In the STEMI case, the search was conducted linking "regionalization" and "myocardial infarction" or citation as a model system by any American Heart Association statement.

RESULTS

For AIS, 17 publications met these criteria and were selected for review. In the STEMI case, four publications met these criteria; the search was therefore expanded by relaxing the criteria to include any historical or anecdotal comparison to a pre- or nonregionalized state. The final yield was nine papers from six systems.

CONCLUSION

Although regionalized care results in enhanced process and reduced unadjusted rates of disparity in access and adverse outcomes, these differences tend to become nonsignificant when adjusted for delayed presentation and hospital arrival by means other than emergency medical services. The benefits of regionalized care occur along with a temporal trend of improvement due to uptake of quality initiatives and guideline recommendations by all systems regardless of designation. Further research is justified with a randomized registry or cluster randomized design to support or refute recommendations that regionalization should be the standard of care.

Endovascular Stroke Therapy Results Improve over Time: The 'Learning Curve' at a New Comprehensive Stoke Center

BACKGROUND

The requirements for a comprehensive stroke center (CSC) include the capability to perform endovascular stroke therapy (EST). EST is a complex process requiring early identification of appropriate patients and effective delivery of intervention. In order to provide prompt intervention for stroke, CSCs have been established away from large academic centers in community-based hospitals. We hypothesized that quantifiable improvements would occur during the first 2 years of a community-based CSC as the processes and personnel evolved. We report the results over time of EST at a new community-based CSC.

METHODS

We have retrospectively analyzed demographic data and outcome metrics of EST from the initiation phase of a new community-based CSC. Data was divided into year 1 and year 2. Statistical analysis (Student's t test and Fisher's exact test) was performed to compare the patient population and outcomes across the two time periods. Outcome variables included the thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) score, a change in the NIH stroke scale score and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to statistically analyze the relationship between population variables and outcome. Computed tomography (CT) angiography and CT perfusion analysis were used to select patients for EST. Approximately half of the patients undergoing EST were excluded from receiving intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV rt-PA) by standard criteria, while the other half showed no sign of improvement following 1 h of IV rt-PA treatment. Mechanical thrombolysis with a stentriever was performed in the majority of cases with or without intra-arterial medication. The majority of treated occlusions were in the middle cerebral artery.

RESULTS

A total of 18 patients underwent EST during year 1 and year 2. A statistically significant increase in good outcomes (mRS score ≤2 at discharge) was seen from year 1 to year 2 (p = 0.05). There were trends towards faster interventions, decreased complications and mortality as well as an improved TICI score from year 1 to year 2. With ANOVA, mortality was statistically correlated with age (p = 0.06), while decreases in the NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) score following EST correlated with decreased mortality (p = 0.01). A higher TICI score was significantly associated with a decreased NIHSS score following EST (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

At a new community-based CSC, improved outcome occurred from year 1 to year 2, and trends towards decreased mortality, fewer complications, and improved revascularization were observed. Furthermore, the data shows that improvement in NIHSS score after EST is associated with decreased mortality following stroke in this setting, implying a net benefit.