Awareness of Stroke Risk after TIA in Swiss General Practitioners and Hospital Physicians.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Transient ischemic attacks (TIA) are stroke warning signs and emergency situations, and, if immediately investigated, doctors can intervene to prevent strokes. Nevertheless, many patients delay going to the doctor, and doctors might delay urgently needed investigations and preventative treatments. We set out to determine how much general practitioners (GPs) and hospital physicians (HPs) knew about stroke risk after TIA, and to measure their referral rates.

Methods

We used a structured questionnaire to ask GPs and HPs in the catchment area of the University Hospital of Bern to estimate a patient's risk of stroke after TIA. We also assessed their referral behavior. We then statistically analysed their reasons for deciding not to immediately refer patients.

Result

SUBMITTER: Streit S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4540278 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature