Claudia Kramer

Background: Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs) are a serious medical condition with a significant risk of subsequent stroke. Despite their importance, TIAs are often underrecognized due to their transient nature and similarity to other conditions. Various screening methods have been explored to improve TIA recognition. This project reviews the efficacy of these methods and explores avenues for enhancing stroke recognition in the pre-hospital setting.

Methods: This research was done primarily through the Texas A&M library using the PubMed data base. The search was initiated using the MeSH database and searching for “transient ischemic attack” to find background and review articles on the topic. Then, the MeSH subheading “prevention and control” was selected to focus on papers that addressed prevention and education. Search results were limited to review articles or peer-reviewed studies published in the past 5 years.

Results: Education campaigns targeting both the public and healthcare providers have shown promise in increasing awareness and improving recognition rates. Paramedic training on simple tests like the finger-to-nose (FTN) test has demonstrated a 30% improvement in identifying posterior strokes. Additionally, modifying dispatcher protocols and community education can lead to more accurate symptom recognition and faster EMS response times. A support program for patients post-TIA or stroke has shown positive effects on adherence to secondary prevention measures, though its impact on recurrence rates remains to be fully established.

Conclusions: Since these studies were able to correlate better clinical outcomes with informational campaigns, they demonstrate the benefit of awareness and education in the pre-hospital setting. Many of the articles reviewed concluded by stating that the area of research is “promising, but needs to be expanded”, indicating a lot of room for future studies. The successful integration of a variety of screening methods in the prehospital setting demonstrates a tangible step forward in stroke recognition, underscoring the potential for targeted educational interventions to enhance early diagnosis and improve outcomes in stroke care.

Works Cited

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