BACKGROUND: The Nepal Stroke Project (NSP) aims to improve stroke care in a resource-limited setting. This qualitative study explores healthcare professionals' experiences and perceptions of barriers and success factors in implementing stroke care in Nepal. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight healthcare professionals (six physicians, two nurses) involved in the NSP. Interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, following a constructivist approach. RESULTS: Success factors encompassed the dedication of healthcare professionals, involvement of hospital boards, effective training initiatives, and the formation of stroke teams. Positive developments noted were increased thrombolysis availability, improved stroke awareness, and growing interest in stroke care among medical professionals. Key barriers identified included lack of government ownership in stroke care advocacy, financial constraints for patients, inadequate public awareness, and challenges in implementing quality monitoring. CONCLUSION: While the NSP has initiated positive changes in Nepal's stroke care landscape, significant barriers persist. The study highlights the importance of addressing systemic issues such as government involvement and financial accessibility of treatments. Success factors, particularly the motivation of healthcare professionals and local ownership of the project, provide a foundation for future improvements. These findings can inform strategies for enhancing stroke care delivery in other resource-limited settings and guide ongoing initiatives within the NSP.

• Klíčová slova
• Nepal, implementation research, public awareness, qualitative research, quality monitoring, stroke, stroke care advocacy,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Registry of Stroke Care Quality (RES-Q) is a worldwide quality improvement data platform that captures performance and quality measures, enabling standardized comparisons of hospital care. The aim of this study was to determine if, and how, RES-Q data are used to influence stroke quality improvement and identify the support and educational needs of clinicians using RES-Q data to improve stroke care. METHODS: A cross-sectional self-administered online survey was administered (October 2021-February 2022). Participants were RES-Q hospital local coordinators responsible for stroke data collection. Descriptive statistics are presented. RESULTS: Surveys were sent to 1463 hospitals in 74 countries; responses were received from 358 hospitals in 55 countries (response rate 25%). RES-Q data were used "always" or "often" to: develop quality improvement initiatives (n = 213, 60%); track stroke care quality over time (n = 207, 58%); improve local practice (n = 191, 53%); and benchmark against evidence-based policies, procedures and/or guidelines to identify practice gaps (n = 179, 50%). Formal training in the use of RES-Q tools and data were the most frequent support needs identified by respondents (n = 165, 46%). Over half "strongly agreed" or "agreed" that to support clinical practice change, education is needed on: (i) using data to identify evidence-practice gaps (n = 259, 72%) and change clinical practice (n = 263, 74%), and (ii) quality improvement science and methods (n = 255, 71%). CONCLUSION: RES-Q data are used for monitoring stroke care performance. However, to facilitate their optimal use, effective quality improvement methods are needed. Educating staff in quality improvement science may develop competency and improve use of data in practice.

• Klíčová slova
• clinical quality registry, data, quality improvement, stroke,
• MeSH
• cévní mozková příhoda * terapie   MeSH
• kvalita zdravotní péče MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemocnice MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• registrace MeSH
• rutinně sbírané zdravotní údaje MeSH
• zlepšení kvality * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

INTRODUCTION: We assessed best available data on access and delivery of acute stroke unit (SU) care, intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular treatment (EVT) in the European region in 2019 and 2020. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared national data per number of inhabitants and per 100 annual incident first-ever ischaemic strokes (AIIS) in 46 countries. Population estimates and ischaemic stroke incidence were based on United Nations data and the Global Burden of Disease Report 2019, respectively. RESULTS: The estimated mean number of acute SUs in 2019 was 3.68 (95% CI: 2.90-4.45) per one million inhabitants (MIH) with 7/44 countries having less than one SU per one MIH. The estimated mean annual number of IVTs was 21.03 (95% CI: 15.63-26.43) per 100,000 and 17.14% (95% CI: 12.98-21.30) of the AIIS in 2019, with highest country rates at 79.19 and 52.66%, respectively, and 15 countries delivering less than 10 IVT per 100,000. The estimated mean annual number of EVTs in 2019 was 7.87 (95% CI: 5.96-9.77) per 100,000 and 6.91% (95% CI: 5.15-8.67) of AIIS, with 11 countries delivering less than 1.5 EVT per 100,000. Rates of SUs, IVT and EVT were stable in 2020. There was an increase in mean rates of SUs, IVT and EVT compared to similar data from 2016. CONCLUSION: Although there was an increase in reperfusion treatment rates in many countries between 2016 and 2019, this was halted in 2020. There are persistent major inequalities in acute stroke treatment in the European region. Tailored strategies directed to the most vulnerable regions should be prioritised.

• Klíčová slova
• Europe, acute stroke treatment, endovascular treatment, health care resources, intravenous thrombolysis, stroke care implementation, stroke unit,
• MeSH
• cévní mozková příhoda * epidemiologie   MeSH
• endovaskulární výkony * MeSH
• ischemická cévní mozková příhoda * epidemiologie   MeSH
• ischemie mozku * epidemiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• trombolytická terapie MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

PURPOSE: There is a clinical need for shortened door-to-needle time (DNT) for intravenous thrombolysis, but effective training methods are missing. Simulation training improves teamwork and logistics in numerous fields. Still, it is not clear if simulation improves logistics in stroke. METHODS: To evaluate the efficiency of a simulation training programme, the DNT of participating centres was compared with the rest of stroke centres in the Czech Republic. Patients' data were prospectively collected from the nationally used Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke Registry. The outcome was an improvement in DNT in 2018 as compared with 2015 (after and before the simulation training). Scenarios were based on real clinical cases, and simulation courses were conducted in a standardly equipped simulation centre. FINDINGS: Between 2016 and 2017, 10 courses were conducted for stroke teams from 9 of all 45 stroke centres. DNT data were available both in 2015 and 2018 from 41 (91%) stroke centres. The simulation training improved the DNT in 2018 as compared with 2015 by 30 min (95% CI 25.7 to 34.7) and as compared with 20 min (95% CI 15.8 to 24.3) in stroke centres without the simulation training (p=0.01). Any parenchymal haemorrhage occurred in 5.4% and 3.5% of patients treated in centres without and with simulation training (p=0.054), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: DNT was considerably shortened nationally. It was feasible to implement simulation as a nationwide training programme. The simulation was associated with improved DNT; however, other studies should confirm that such an association is causal.

• Klíčová slova
• Healthcare quality improvement, Simulation, Team training,
• MeSH
• čas zasáhnout při rozvinutí nemoci MeSH
• cévní mozková příhoda * terapie   MeSH
• intravenózní podání MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• tréninková simulace * MeSH
• trombolytická terapie metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

BACKGROUND: Insight in differences in patient outcomes between endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) centers can help to improve stroke care. We assessed between-center variation in functional outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke who were treated with EVT. We analyzed to what extent this variation may be explained by modifiable center characteristics. METHODS: We used nationwide registry data of patients with stroke treated with EVT in the Netherlands and in the Czech Republic. Primary outcome was modified Rankin Scale score at 90 days as an indicator of disability. We used multilevel ordinal logistic regression to quantify the between-center variation in outcomes and the impact of patient and center characteristics. Between-center variation was expressed as the relative difference in odds of a more favorable modified Rankin Scale score between a relatively better performing center (75th percentile) and a relatively worse performing center (25th percentile). RESULTS: We included a total of 4518 patients treated in 33 centers. Adjusted for patient characteristics, the odds of a more favorable outcome in a center at the 75th percentile of the outcome distribution were 1.46 times higher (95% CI, 1.31-1.70) than the odds in a center at the 25th percentile. Adjustment for center characteristics, including the median time between stroke onset and reperfusion per center, decreased this relative difference in odds to 1.30 (95% CI, 1.18-1.50, P=0.01). This translates into an absolute difference in likelihood of good functional outcome of 8% after adjustment for patient characteristics and to 5% after further adjustment for modifiable center characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: The considerable between-center variation in patient outcomes after EVT for acute ischemic stroke could be largely explained by center-specific characteristics, such as time to reperfusion. Improvement of these parameters may likely result in a decrease in center-specific differences, and an overall improvement in outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke.

• Klíčová slova
• hospitals, multicenter study, quality improvement, stroke, thrombectomy,
• MeSH
• cévní mozková příhoda * diagnóza   etiologie   terapie   MeSH
• endovaskulární výkony * škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• ischemická cévní mozková příhoda * MeSH
• ischemie mozku * diagnóza   etiologie   terapie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• registrace MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Fabry disease (FD) is a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by disease-associated variants in the alpha-galactosidase A gene (GLA). FD is a known cause of stroke in younger patients. There are limited data on prevalence of FD and stroke risk in unselected stroke patients. METHODS: A prospective nationwide study including 35 (78%) of all 45 stroke centers and all consecutive stroke patients admitted during three months. Clinical data were collected in the RES-Q database. FD was diagnosed using dried blood spots in a stepwise manner: in males-enzymatic activity, globotriaosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb3) quantification, if positive followed by GLA gene sequencing; and in females GLA sequencing followed by lyso-Gb3. RESULTS: 986 consecutive patients (54% men, mean age 70 years) were included. Observed stroke type was ischemic 79%, transient ischemic attack (TIA) 14%, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) 7%, subarachnoid hemorrhage 1% and cerebral venous thrombosis 0.1%. Two (0.2%, 95% CI 0.02-0.7) patients had a pathogenic variant associated with the classical FD phenotype (c.1235_1236delCT and p.G325S). Another fourteen (1.4%, 95% CI 0.08-2.4) patients had a variant of GLA gene considered benign (9 with p.D313Y, one p.A143T, one p.R118C, one p.V199A, one p.R30K and one p.R38G). The index stroke in two carriers of disease-associated variant was ischemic lacunar. In 14 carriers of GLA gene variants 11 strokes were ischemic, two TIA, and one ICH. Patients with positive as compared to negative GLA gene screening were younger (mean 60±SD, min, max, vs 70±SD, min, max, P = 0.02), otherwise there were no differences in other baseline variables. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of FD in unselected adult patients with acute stroke is 0.2%. Both patients who had a pathogenic GLA gene variant were younger than 50 years. Our results support FD screening in patients that had a stroke event before 50 years of age.

• MeSH
• alfa-galaktosidasa krev   genetika   MeSH
• cévní mozková příhoda krev   komplikace   epidemiologie   genetika   MeSH
• exprese genu MeSH
• Fabryho nemoc krev   komplikace   epidemiologie   genetika   MeSH
• genetické testování MeSH
• glykolipidy krev   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• sfingolipidy krev   MeSH
• test suché kapky krve MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• alfa-galaktosidasa MeSH
• GLA protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• globotriaosyl lysosphingolipid MeSH Prohlížeč
• glykolipidy MeSH
• sfingolipidy MeSH