Impact of an outpatient telestroke clinic on management of rural stroke patients.
Aust J Rural Health
; 30(3): 337-342, 2022 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35412702
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Report on feasibility, use and effects on investigations and treatment of a neurologist-supported stroke clinic in rural Australia.DESIGN:
Data were collected prospectively for consecutive patients referred to atelehealth stroke clinic from November 2018 to August 2021. SETTINGS, PARTICIPANTS ANDINTERVENTIONS:
Patients attended the local hospital, with a rural stroke care coordinator, and were assessed by stroke neurologist over videoconference. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
The following feasibility outcomes on the first appointments were analysed (1) utility (a) change in medication, (b) request of additional investigations, (c) enrolment/offering clinical trials or d) other; (2) acceptability (attendance rate); and (3) process of care (waiting time to first appointment, distance travelled).RESULTS:
During the study period, 173 appointments were made; 125 (73.5%) were first appointments. The median age was 70 [63-79] years, and 69 patients were male. A diagnosis of stroke or transient ischemic attack was made by the neurologist in 106 patients. A change in diagnosis was made in 23 (18.4%) patients. Of the first appointments, 102 (81.6%) resulted in at least one intervention medication was changed in 67 (53.6%) patients, additional investigations requested in 72 (57.6%), 15 patients (12%) were referred to a clinical trial, and other interventions were made in 23 patients. The overall attendance rate of booked appointments was high. The median waiting time and distance travelled (round-trip) for a first appointment were 38 [24-53] days and 60.8 [25.6-76.6] km respectively.CONCLUSION:
The telestroke clinic was very well attended, and it led to high volume of interventions in rural stroke patients.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Pacientes Ambulatoriais
/
Acidente Vascular Cerebral
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
Limite:
Aged
/
Female
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Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Aust J Rural Health
Assunto da revista:
ENFERMAGEM
/
SAUDE PUBLICA
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Austrália