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Residents report increased comfort with use of tPA in stroke treatment
Fridman V. Stroke. 2011;doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.111.621839.
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Neurology residents in 2010 reported significantly more comfort with treating the acute stroke patient using tissue plasminogen activator than residents in 2000, according to study results.
Researchers examined how the experience that US residents had with assessment of the acute stroke patient and use of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) for treatment changed during the past decade. They used a 12-item survey of graduating neurology residents conducted in 2000 as a reference point. Results of that survey indicated that many residents had limited experience and comfort treating with tPA.
The current 12-item survey completed by 286 residents in 2010 was worded identically as the survey in 2000.
Results indicated a significant increase during the 10-year period in the percentage of residents who felt comfortable independently treating with tPA, 73% vs. 94% (P<.001).
The percentage of residents who had observed administration of tPA also significantly increased, from 88% to 99% (P<.001), as did the percentage of those who had personally treated with tPA (80% vs. 95%; P<.001) and the percentage of those who had been involved in post-tPA care (89% vs. 98%; P<.001).
A substantial increase in residents with formal training in using the NIH Stroke Scale was observed (65% vs. 92%; P<.001), along with an increase in residents who reported having dedicated stroke teams at their institution (84% vs. 93%; P=.001).
“The dramatic improvement in both resident experience and comfort with tPA during the last decade is certainly encouraging,” the researchers wrote.
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