"Can you send an ambulance please?": a comparison of callers' requests for emergency medical dispatch in non-stroke and stroke calls.

Background: Identifying 'true stroke' from an emergency medical services (EMS) call is challenging, with over 50% of strokes being misclassified. In a previous study, we examined the relationship between callers' descriptions of stroke symptoms to the emergency medical dispatcher and the subsequent classification and prioritisation of EMS response. The aim of this subsequent study was to explore further the use of keywords by callers when making emergency calls, comparing stroke and non-stroke calls.

'Is he awake?': dialogues between callers and call handlers about consciousness during emergency calls for suspected acute stroke.

Background: Altered consciousness is an important symptom of acute stroke but assessment may be challenging when cognitive or language deficits are present. Callers are routinely questioned about conscious level by emergency medical services (EMS) call handlers for any presenting problem.

Objective: This study aimed to identify and compare how patients' conscious level was questioned, described and interpreted by callers and call handlers during acute stroke calls.

The identification of acute stroke: an analysis of emergency calls.

Background: Accurate dispatch of emergency medical services at the onset of acute stroke is vital in expediting assessment and treatment. We examined the relationship between callers' description of potential stroke symptoms to the emergency medical dispatcher and the subsequent classification and prioritisation of emergency medical services response.

Aim: To identify key 'indicator' words used by people making emergency calls for suspected stroke, comparing these with the subsequent category of response given by the emergency medical dispatcher.

Callers' experiences of making emergency calls at the onset of acute stroke: a qualitative study.

Background: Rapid access to emergency medical services (EMS) is essential at the onset of acute stroke, but significant delays in contacting EMS often occur.

Objective: To explore factors that influence the caller's decision to contact EMS at the onset of stroke, and the caller's experiences of the call.

Methods: Participants were identified through a purposive sample of admissions to two hospitals via ambulance with suspected stroke.

Physiological monitoring in acute stroke: a literature review.

Aim: This paper is a report of a review of the literature that considers how physiological parameters may affect outcome after stroke and the implications of this evidence for monitoring.

Background: Throughout the world, the incidence of first-ever stroke is approximately 200 per 100,000 people per year [Sudlow et al. (1997).