Reduction of Prehospital Delays in Stroke and Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Stroke
• Interventions: Behavioral: educational material

• Registration Number: NCT00744029
• Lead Sponsor: Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Brief Summary

In patients with acute stroke, systemic thrombolysis needs to be administered within three hours of symptom onset. The aim of the present study was to reduce prehospital delays in a population-based intervention.The intervention consisted of an educational letter indicating stroke symptoms and emphasizing the importance of calling the emergency medical services (EMS). The investigators additionally included a bookmark and sticker with the EMS telephone number. A total of 75,720 inhabitants received the intervention. Between 2004 and 2005, 741 patients with cerebrovascular events were admitted from the control areas (n=24) and 647 from the intervention areas (n=24).

Detailed Description

Background and Purpose:

In patients with acute stroke, systemic thrombolysis needs to be administered within three hours of symptom onset. The aim of the present study was to reduce prehospital delays in a population-based intervention.

Methods:

We performed a cluster-randomized trial with 48 zip code areas as cluster units in the catchment area of three inner-city hospitals in Berlin. The primary endpoint was time between symptom onset and hospital admission. The intervention consisted of an educational letter indicating stroke symptoms and emphasizing the importance of calling the emergency medical services (EMS). We additionally included a bookmark and sticker with the EMS telephone number. We fitted a lognormal survival regression model (time-to-admission) with frailty terms shared by inhabitants of the same zip code area.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2004-02
• Primary Completion: 2005-12
• Study Completion: 2007-06
• Status Verified: 2008-08
• Study First Submitted: 2008-08-28
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-08-28
• Study First Posted: 2008-08-29
• Last Update Submitted: 2008-08-29
• Last Update Posted: 2008-09-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 1388

Inclusion Criteria

• All patients with stroke or transient ischaemic attacks from the postal code areas of the study being admitted to one of the participating hospitals

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients with stroke or transient ischaemic attacks from outside the postal code areas of the study

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intervention group	educational material	Educational letter indicating stroke symptoms and emphasizing the importance of calling the emergency medical services (EMS) as well as a bookmark and sticker with the EMS telephone number.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Time between symptom onset and hospital admission	Admission to hospital

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Proportion of patients with thrombolysis	hospital stay
Mortality	hospital stay

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics; 🇩🇪 Berlin, Germany