title: Transient ischaemic attack and stroke risk: pilot of a primary care electronic decision support tool.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) indicate high risk for stroke and rapid management reduces stroke burden. Rapid specialist access to initiate timely management is often challenging to achieve.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility of implementing a TIA/Stroke electronic decision support (EDS) tool intended to aid general practitioners (GPs) in the timely management of TIAs.
  
  
  METHODS
  An eight-week pilot provided access to the TIA/Stroke EDS to selected GPs in the MidCentral district, with subsequent patient record review and a post-pilot user satisfaction survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven patients from eight practices were entered into the tool and when EDS-rendered advice was followed, diagnosis was accurate and management was in accordance with New Zealand TIA guidelines. No adverse outcomes resulted and user feedback was positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate that wider implementation of the TIA/Stroke EDS tool is feasible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, MidCentral Health, PB 11036, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand. Anna.ranta@midcentraldhb.govt.nz
authors.forename: Annemarei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranta
mesh_terms: D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058006:General Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy