How is hydration assessed and managed in acute stroke? A qualitative study of healthcare staff's knowledge, attitudes and experiences.

Aims And Objectives: To explore healthcare staff's experiences of how dehydration is identified and managed in hospitalised patients after acute stroke, and facilitators and challenges to optimising hydration.

Background: Optimal hydration post-stroke reduces the risk of neurological deterioration and other complications. Patients are at risk of dehydration in acute stroke, particularly those with dysphagia.

Medication adherence early after stroke: using the Perceptions and Practicalities Framework to explore stroke survivors', informal carers' and nurses' experiences of barriers and solutions.

Background: Secondary prevention medication after stroke reduces risk of recurrence, but adherence is often poor. Stroke survivors', carers' and nurses' perspectives of early post-stroke medication adherence are unexplored.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore stroke survivors', carers' and nurses' views and experiences about adhering to medication early after post-stroke hospital discharge.

The effectiveness of quality improvement collaboratives in improving stroke care and the facilitators and barriers to their implementation: a systematic review.

Background: To successfully reduce the negative impacts of stroke, high-quality health and care practices are needed across the entire stroke care pathway. These practices are not always shared across organisations. Quality improvement collaboratives (QICs) offer a unique opportunity for key stakeholders from different organisations to share, learn and 'take home' best practice examples, to support local improvement efforts.

Characteristics of patients who had a stroke not initially identified during emergency prehospital assessment: a systematic review.

Background: Around 25% of patients who had a stroke do not present with typical 'face, arm, speech' symptoms at onset, and are challenging for emergency medical services (EMS) to identify. The aim of this systematic review was to identify the characteristics of acute stroke presentations associated with inaccurate EMS identification (false negatives).

Method: We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PubMed from 1995 to August 2020 using key terms: stroke, EMS, paramedics, identification and assessment.

Predictors of recognition of out of hospital cardiac arrest by emergency medical services call handlers in England: a mixed methods diagnostic accuracy study.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify key indicator symptoms and patient factors associated with correct out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) dispatch allocation. In previous studies, from 3% to 62% of OHCAs are not recognised by Emergency Medical Service call handlers, resulting in delayed arrival at scene.

Methods: Retrospective, mixed methods study including all suspected or confirmed OHCA patients transferred to one acute hospital from its associated regional Emergency Medical Service in England from 1/7/2013 to 30/6/2014.

Mobile health applications for managing atrial fibrillation for healthcare professionals and patients: a systematic review.

Aims: A plethora of mobile health applications (m-health apps) to support healthcare are available for both patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) but content and quality vary considerably and few have undergone formal assessment. The aim is to systematically review the literature on m-health apps for managing atrial fibrillation (AF) that examine the impact on knowledge of AF, patient and HCP behaviour, patients' quality-of-life, and user engagement.

Methods And Results: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsychInfo were searched from 1 January 2005 to 5 September 2019, with hand-searching of clinical trial registers and grey literature.

Etiologic Workup in Cases of Cryptogenic Stroke: A Systematic Review of International Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Background and Purpose- Identifying the etiology of acute ischemic stroke is essential for effective secondary prevention. However, in at least one third of ischemic strokes, existing investigative protocols fail to determine the underlying cause. Establishing etiology is complicated by variation in clinical practice, often reflecting preferences of treating clinicians and variable availability of investigative techniques.

Etiologic workup in cases of cryptogenic stroke: protocol for a systematic review and comparison of international clinical practice guidelines.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Identifying the aetiology of ischaemic stroke is essential in order to initiate appropriate and timely secondary prevention measures to reduce the risk of recurrence. For the majority of ischaemic strokes, the aetiology can be readily identified, but in at least 30% of cases, the exact aetiology cannot be determined using existing investigative protocols.

Medication-taking after stroke: a qualitative meta-synthesis of the perspectives of stroke survivors, informal carers and health professionals.

Background: Lifelong secondary prevention medication is recommended after stroke or transient ischaemic attack. However, poor medication adherence and persistence, which lead to suboptimal health outcomes, are common, but the reasons for this are not well understood, mainly because there have been few studies reporting adherence barriers in stroke survivors.

Objective: The aim of this review was to undertake a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies of medication-taking after stroke.

Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility of Comparing Computer Game Play with Close Work During Occlusion in Children Aged 2-7 Years with Amblyopia.

Background/aims: Computer games have been used to stimulate vision in amblyopia with varying degrees of success. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of computer game play compared to close work during occlusion treatment in children.

Method: Children aged 2-7 years with amblyopia and no prior amblyopia treatment were invited to participate.

Great expectations? A qualitative study of health professionals' perspectives on breaking bad news about rehabilitation potential after traumatic brain injury or spinal injury.

Neurorehabilitation units play an important role in facilitating recovery for those with complex needs following a neurological event. National guidance highlights the importance of providing patients and their families with information and fostering realistic expectations. This may involve the breaking of bad news.

Healthcare practitioners' views and experiences of barriers and facilitators to weight management interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Background: Obesity is common in adults with intellectual disabilities, yet little is known about how weight management interventions are provided for this population.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were held with 14 healthcare practitioners involved in weight management interventions in an English county. A study topic guide was developed to elicit practitioners' views and experiences of barriers and facilitators to weight management for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Stroke survivors' and carers' experiences of a systematic voiding programme to treat urinary incontinence after stroke.

Aims And Objectives: To explore the views and experiences of stroke survivors and carers about a systematic voiding programme for poststroke incontinence.

Background: Urinary incontinence after stroke is common and associated with poorer functional outcome. Structured assessment and management are potentially effective interventions, but it is important that there is a good understanding of stroke survivors' and carers' views of their acceptability and implementation.

The impact of education and training interventions for nurses and other health care staff involved in the delivery of stroke care: An integrative review.

Objectives: The aim of this review was to explore the impact of stroke education and training of nurses and other health care staff involved in the delivery of stroke care.

Design: We performed an integrative review, following PRISMA guidance where possible.

Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE, ERIC, PubMed, AMED, EMBASE, HMIC, CINAHL, Google Scholar, IBSS, Web of Knowledge, and the British Nursing Index from 1980 to 2016.

Integrating acute stroke telemedicine consultations into specialists' usual practice: a qualitative analysis comparing the experience of Australia and the United Kingdom.

Background: Stroke telemedicine can reduce healthcare inequities by increasing access to specialists. Successful telemedicine networks require specialists adapting clinical practice to provide remote consultations. Variation in experiences of specialists between different countries is unknown.

An integrative review of multicomponent weight management interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Background: Obesity is more prevalent in people with intellectual disabilities and increases the risk of developing serious medical conditions. UK guidance recommends multicomponent weight management interventions (MCIs), tailored for different population groups.

Methods: An integrative review utilizing systematic review methodology was conducted to identify the types of MCIs delivered to adults with intellectual disabilities.

'It was like he was in the room with us': patients' and carers' perspectives of telemedicine in acute stroke.

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.

"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.