Assessment of healthcare personnel knowledge of stroke care at a large referral hospital in sub-Saharan Africa – A survey based approach

Publication date: August 2017 Source:Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, Volume 42 Author(s): Chen Lin, Ravi Vakani, Peter Kussin, Mary Guhwe, Alfredo E. Farjat, Kingshuk Choudhury, David Renner, Chrispine Oduor, Carmelo Graffagnino There is no published literature regarding sub-Saharan health-care providers’ understanding of stroke management patterns. Understanding current stroke management knowledge is important in formulating future education opportunities for providers to optimize patient outcomes. A cross-sectional survey of acute stroke diagnosis, hospital management, and secondary prevention questions was administered to health-care providers working in one large Kenyan acute referral hospital. Due to the prevalence of medical students (61.8%), an experienced-focused analysis contrasted students with more experienced providers. Providers (n =199) anonymously responded to the surveys. Among the acute diagnosis most respondents stated that stroke scales should always used (58.3% of respondents), 3h was the time period for alteplase (t-PA) (53.8% of respondents), and CT scan should be always be obtained prior to administration of anticoagulant therapy (61.3% of respondents). Neither VTE prophylaxis nor dysphagia/swallowing screening were considered to be done a majority of time. Secondary prevention results were variable. The respondent’s level of clinical experience made the most difference in correctly answering the most appropriate IV Fluid to use in stro...
Source: Journal of Clinical Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research