Fridman V. Stroke. 2011;doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.111.621839.
Neurology residents in 2010 reported significantly more
comfort with treating the acute stroke patient using tissue plasminogen
activator than residents in 2000, according to study results.
Researchers examined how the experience that US
residents had with assessment of the acute stroke patient and use of tissue
plasminogen activator (tPA) for treatment changed during the past decade. They
used a 12-item survey of graduating neurology residents conducted in 2000 as a
reference point. Results of that survey indicated that many residents had
limited experience and comfort treating with tPA.
The current 12-item survey completed by 286 residents in
2010 was worded identically as the survey in 2000.
Results indicated a significant increase during the
10-year period in the percentage of residents who felt comfortable
independently treating with tPA, 73% vs. 94% (P<.001).
The percentage of residents who had observed
administration of
tPA also significantly increased, from 88% to 99%
(P<.001), as did the percentage of those who had personally treated
with tPA (80% vs. 95%; P<.001) and the percentage of those who had
been involved in post-tPA care (89% vs. 98%; P<.001).
A substantial increase in residents with formal training
in using the
NIH
Stroke Scale was observed (65% vs. 92%; P<.001), along with an
increase in residents who reported having dedicated stroke teams at their
institution (84% vs. 93%; P=.001).
“The dramatic improvement in both resident
experience and comfort with tPA during the last decade is certainly
encouraging,” the researchers wrote.