TY - JOUR
T1 - Development of an educational program for staffs of emergency medical service to improve their awareness of stroke within 3 hours of symptom onset
T2 - A pilot study
AU - Hsieh, Han Chieh
AU - Hsieh, Cheng Yang
AU - Lin, Chih Hao
AU - Sung, Pi Shan
AU - Li, Chung Yi
AU - Chi, Chih Hsien
AU - Chen, Chih Hung
PY - 2013/3
Y1 - 2013/3
N2 - Purpose: Timely identification and transport are crucial for the pre-hospital management of stroke by emergency medical service (EMS) providers. In this preliminary study, our aim was to develop an educational program which can improve 1) stroke knowledge and 2) triage accuracy of identifying acute stroke within 3 hours of symptom onset by dedicated EMS providers in Tainan city. Methods: A total of 33 providers received a written test before, immediately after, and 3 months after completing the educational program, which was about stroke knowledge, diagnosis, and management. The test (total score, 39) contained three sections: two on stroke knowledge (consisting of true-false and choice questions) and one on clinical scenarios (situational descriptions and videos). Results: The mean total score improved significantly immediately after the program (34.2 ± 2.2 vs. 37.3 ± 1.7, p<0.001). An increase in mean score was also noted for all three sections. The increase in total score lasted 3 months (36.4 ± 1.9 vs. 34.1 ± 2.2, p=0.002). The linear regression model showed greater improvement on scores correlated with lower pretest total score only, not correlated with age, gender, work year and the learning or working experience. Conclusion: The educational program increased knowledge about stroke and improved the accuracy of triage by dedicated EMS providers. Further investigation is needed to determine the effectiveness of similar educational programs for non-dedicated EMS responders.
AB - Purpose: Timely identification and transport are crucial for the pre-hospital management of stroke by emergency medical service (EMS) providers. In this preliminary study, our aim was to develop an educational program which can improve 1) stroke knowledge and 2) triage accuracy of identifying acute stroke within 3 hours of symptom onset by dedicated EMS providers in Tainan city. Methods: A total of 33 providers received a written test before, immediately after, and 3 months after completing the educational program, which was about stroke knowledge, diagnosis, and management. The test (total score, 39) contained three sections: two on stroke knowledge (consisting of true-false and choice questions) and one on clinical scenarios (situational descriptions and videos). Results: The mean total score improved significantly immediately after the program (34.2 ± 2.2 vs. 37.3 ± 1.7, p<0.001). An increase in mean score was also noted for all three sections. The increase in total score lasted 3 months (36.4 ± 1.9 vs. 34.1 ± 2.2, p=0.002). The linear regression model showed greater improvement on scores correlated with lower pretest total score only, not correlated with age, gender, work year and the learning or working experience. Conclusion: The educational program increased knowledge about stroke and improved the accuracy of triage by dedicated EMS providers. Further investigation is needed to determine the effectiveness of similar educational programs for non-dedicated EMS responders.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 23479240
AN - SCOPUS:84876274996
SN - 1019-6099
VL - 22
SP - 4
EP - 12
JO - Acta Neurologica Taiwanica
JF - Acta Neurologica Taiwanica
IS - 1
ER -