학술논문

Assessing the readiness of hospitals in Riyadh Province for efficient and timely stroke management: A pilot study
Original Article
Document Type
Academic Journal
Source
Neurosciences. July 2021, Vol. 26 Issue 3, p254, 7 p.
Subject
Saudi Arabia
Australia
Language
English
ISSN
1319-6138
Abstract
Stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability worldwide. (1) The incidence rate of stroke in the Middle East ranges between 22.7 and [...]
Objectives: To assess the readiness of hospitals in Riyadh to establish acute stroke centers by following the Australian Clinical Guidelines for Stroke Management. Methods: This study was a quantitative cross-sectional observational study conducted among hospitals in the central region of Saudi Arabia (Jan 2018-April 2018). A self-administered questionnaire/survey tool was adapted from an Australian survey developed by the Stroke Foundation in Melbourne, Australia. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Appropriate statistical tests (chi-square and Fisher's exact test) were used for bivariate analyses. Results: A total of 3932 stroke patient visits were recorded in 37 hospitals in the central region of Saudi Arabia. The most common limitations of acute stroke services were that 25 (67.57%) of the hospitals had no stroke unit and 21 (56.76%) had inadequate clinical staff. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography were available in 32 (86.49%) and 36 (97.30%) hospitals, respectively. Only two-thirds of hospitals 25 (67.57%) followed protocols for rapid Emergency Department (ED) triage. Conclusion: We found that most of our hospitals were not fully prepared to address acute stroke management in a manner that was reasonably consistent with international guidelines. We recommend raising the hospital's requirements a higher level to be in line with the stroke guidelines.