Publications by authors named "Joanna McAdam"
Background: Telemedicine can facilitate delivery of thrombolysis in acute stroke. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore patients' and carers' views of their experiences of using a stroke telemedicine system in order to contribute to the development of reliable and acceptable telemedicine systems and training for health-care staff.
Method: We recruited patients who had, and carers who were present at, recent telemedicine consultations for acute stroke in three hospitals in NW England.
In acute stroke care, urgent specialist assessment and treatment are essential to reduce the risk of death and disability. However, many patients do not receive them due to a lack of specialist services. One solution is to use telemedicine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Purpose: Different modes of administration are used to collect stroke outcomes, even within the same study, potentially leading to different results. We investigated the effect of administration mode (postal questionnaire; face-to-face interview) on self-reports of activities of daily living and mood.
Methods: The study was nested within a poststroke motivational interviewing trial.
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.
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.
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.
Objective: To determine if repetitive task training after stroke improves functional activity.
Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of trials comparing repetitive task training with attention control or usual care.
Data Sources: The Cochrane Stroke Trials Register, electronic databases of published, unpublished and non-English language papers; conference proceedings, reference lists, and trial authors.
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).