Harrison, M., Ryan, T., Gardiner, C. orcid.org/0000-0003-1785-7054 et al. (1 more author) (2012) Patients' and carers' experiences of gaining access to acute stroke care: A qualitative study. Emergency Medicine Journal, 30 (12). pp. 1033-1037. ISSN 1472-0205
Abstract
Background: Rapid access to acute stroke care is essential to improve stroke patient outcomes. Policy recommendations for the emergency management of stroke have resulted in signi ficant changes to stroke services, including the introduction of hyper-acute care. Objective: To explore patients' and carers' experiences of gaining access to acute stroke care and identify the factors that enabled or prevented stroke from being treated as a medical emergency. Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 59 stroke survivors and carers who had received care at seven UK centres. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was undertaken. Results: Themes emerging showed that participants recognised signs and symptoms, they were satisfied with access to emergency medical services (EMS), and they experienced setbacks in the emergency department and delays caused by the lack of availability of specialist services outside normal working hours. Awareness of the importance of time to treatment was generally attributed to the UK stroke awareness campaign, although some felt the message was not sufficiently comprehensive. This awareness led to increased frustration when participants perceived a lack of urgency in the provision of assessment and medical care. Conclusions: The stroke awareness social marketing campaign has contributed to public knowledge and was perceived to assist in reducing prehospital delay. It has also resulted in an enhanced knowledge of the significance of rapid treatment on admission to hospital and raised public expectation of EMS and stroke services to act fast. More research is required to assist organisational change to reduce in-hospital delay.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2012 1. BMJ Publishing Group 2. College of Emergency Medicine. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in Emergency Medicine Journal. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > School of Nursing and Midwifery (Sheffield) The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > School of Health and Related Research (Sheffield) > ScHARR - Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number SHEFFIELD TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST CLAHRC |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 06 Jun 2016 09:32 |
Last Modified: | 24 Mar 2018 10:59 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2012-201974 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | 1. BMJ Publishing Group 2. College of Emergency Medicine |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1136/emermed-2012-201974 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:100467 |