title: Knowledge of Thrombolytic Therapy Amongst Hospital Staff: Preliminary Results and Treatment Implications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In-hospital stroke is associated with slower access to thrombolysis than community-occurring stroke. It has been suggested that lack of knowledge regarding appropriate stroke response among hospital staff may contribute to delays in referral, assessment, and treatment of in-hospital stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted among hospital ward staff members using the Stroke Awareness Questionnaire, which was adapted for use among hospital staff to assess their knowledge of stroke symptoms, acute treatments, and hospital protocols for treatment of stroke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six staff members were interviewed, 81% of whom were clinical staff (medical, nursing, allied health professionals). Ninety-two percent of staff could name ≥3 stroke symptoms. Only 49% of staff were aware of thrombolysis treatment, and only 48% could identify the time window for thrombolysis administration, with staff from stroke-related specialties likely to name thrombolysis as an acute treatment for stroke (71%; odds ratio =3.36, 95% confidence interval 1.17-9.61) and identify the correct treatment window (71%; odds ratio =3.55, 95% confidence interval 1.24-10.16). Only 52% of staff on general wards were aware of an in-hospital stroke protocol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hospital staff had adequate knowledge of stroke signs and symptoms; however, there was low awareness of thrombolysis therapy and its correct treatment time window among hospital staff. Targeted educational programmes among hospital staff regarding stroke are required to optimize acute stroke care.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Psychology (L.M., A.H.), School of Medicine (H.H.), and Department of Geriatric and Stroke Medicine (S.L., D.W.), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland. lisamellon@rcsi.ie.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mellon
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Psychology (L.M., A.H.), School of Medicine (H.H.), and Department of Geriatric and Stroke Medicine (S.L., D.W.), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Husain
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Psychology (L.M., A.H.), School of Medicine (H.H.), and Department of Geriatric and Stroke Medicine (S.L., D.W.), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Psychology (L.M., A.H.), School of Medicine (H.H.), and Department of Geriatric and Stroke Medicine (S.L., D.W.), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Psychology (L.M., A.H.), School of Medicine (H.H.), and Department of Geriatric and Stroke Medicine (S.L., D.W.), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hickey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents
keywords: acute therapy; data collection; education; stroke; thrombolysis