Efficacy of site-independent telemedicine in the STRokE DOC trial: a randomised, blinded, prospective study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To increase the effective use of thrombolytics for acute stroke, the expertise of vascular neurologists must be disseminated more widely. We prospectively assessed whether telemedicine (real-time, two-way audio and video, and digital imaging and communications in medicine [DICOM] interpretation) or telephone was superior for decision making in acute telemedicine consultations.

Methods

From January, 2004, to August, 2007, patients older than 18 years who presented with acute stroke symptoms at one of four remote spoke sites were randomly assigned, through a web-based, permuted blocks system, to telemedicine or telephone consultation to assess their suitability for treatment with thrombolytics, on the basis of standard criteria. The primary outcome measure was wheth

SUBMITTER: Meyer BC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2744128 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature