Understanding Breastfeeding Initiation and Continuation in Rural Communities: A Combined Qualitative/Quantitative Approach

To determine factors associated with breastfeeding in rural communities

Assessment and selection for rehabilitation following acute stroke: a prospective cohort study in Queensland, Australia

To describe current practice and investigate factors associated with selection for rehabilitation following acute stroke.Prospective observational cohort study.Seven public hospitals in Queensland, Australia.Consecutive patients surviving acute stroke.Rehabilitation selection processes are assessment for rehabilitation needs, referral for rehabilitation and receipt of rehabilitation. Functional impairment following stroke is modified Rankin Scale (mRS).We recruited 504 patients, median age 73 years (interquartile range (IQR) = 62-82), between July 2016 and January 2017. Of these, 90% (454/504) were assessed for rehabilitation needs, 76% (381/504) referred for rehabilitation, and 72% (363/504) received any rehabilitation. There was significant variation in all rehabilitation selection processes across sites ( P

Guideline recommendations for active therapy dose following acute stroke are not being met in any setting

Background: National guidelines recommend a minimum of three hours scheduled active therapy (occupational therapy and physiotherapy) per weekday after acute stroke. Little is known about dose of rehabilitation received. Aims: To describe current dose of active rehabilitation therapy following acute stroke across different rehabilitation settings. Methods: Prospective observational cohort study of consecutive patients who received rehabilitation after acute stroke in seven sites. We collected data on therapy delivered by allied health professionals (duration, professional group, setting) through all types of rehabilitation episodes up to 6-months post stroke. Active therapy time was defined as face-to-face physiotherapy or occupational therapy in minutes/weekday. Descriptive analyses are presented. Results: 368 patients received rehabilitation (40% female, mean age 71). Median (IQR) active therapy dose was 42 minutes/weekday (IQR 15, 87). Active therapy dose in minutes/weekday (IQR) within different rehabilitation settings was: statistical rehabilitation episodes in acute stroke unit (ASU) 104 (48,168); inpatient rehabilitation units (IRU) 95 (63,135); centre and home-based community rehabilitation (CR)10 (4,22); and transition care (TC) 19 (9,31). Median total active therapy per patient across all episodes (mean 1.2 episodes / patient) was 22 hours (IQR 5.7, 54): ASU 9hours (3,26), IRU 30hours (12,60), CR 3hours (1, 7), and TC 11hours (5,19). Daily dose of active therapy exceeded 3 hours in 11% of all episodes: 24% in ASU, 10% in IRU, 3% in CR, and 5% in TC. Conclusion: Active therapy guideline recommendations are not being met for most stroke survivors across all settings

Dose and setting of rehabilitation received after stroke in Queensland, Australia: a prospective cohort study

The aims of this study were to describe patterns and dose of rehabilitation received following stroke and to investigate their relationship with outcomes.This was a prospective observational cohort study.A total of seven public hospitals and all subsequent rehabilitation services in Queensland, Australia, participated in the study.Participants were consecutive patients surviving acute stroke between July 2016 and January 2017.We tracked rehabilitation for six months following stroke and obtained 90- to 180-day outcomes from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry.Dose of rehabilitation - time in therapy by physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology; modified Rankin Scale (mRS)- premorbid, acute care discharge and 90- to 180-day follow-up.We recruited 504 patients, of whom 337 (median age = 73 years, 41% female) received 643 episodes of rehabilitation in 83 different services. Initial rehabilitation was predominantly inpatient (260/337, 77%) versus community-based (77/337, 21%). Therapy time was greater within inpatient services (median = 29 hours) compared to community-based (6 hours) or transition care (16 hours). Median (Quartile 1, Quartile 3) six-month cumulative therapy time was 73 hours (40, 130) when rehabilitation commenced in stroke units and continued in inpatient rehabilitation units; 43 hours (23, 78) when commenced in inpatient rehabilitation units; and 5 hours (2, 9) with only community rehabilitation. In 317 of 504 (63%) with follow-up data, improvement in mRS was most likely with inpatient rehabilitation (OR = 3.6, 95% CI = 1.7-7.7), lower with community rehabilitation (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 0.7-3.8) compared to no rehabilitation, after adjustment for baseline factors.Amount of therapy varied widely between rehabilitation pathways. Amount of therapy and chance of improvement in function were highest with inpatient rehabilitation

Understanding the role of external facilitation to drive quality improvement for stroke care in hospitals

The use of external facilitation within the context of multicomponent quality improvement interventions (mQI) is growing. We aimed to evaluate the influence of external facilitation for improving the quality of acute stroke care. Clinicians from hospitals participating in mQI (Queensland, Australia) as part of the Stroke123 study were supported by external facilitators in a single, on-site workshop to review hospital performance against eight clinical processes of care (PoCs) collected in the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (AuSCR) and develop an action plan. Remote support (i.e., telephone/email) after the workshop was provided. As part of a process evaluation for Stroke123, we recorded the number and mode of contacts between clinicians and facilitators; type of support provided; and frequency of self-directed, hospital-level stroke registry data reviews. Analysis: We measured the association between amount/type of external facilitation, (i) development of action plans, and (ii) adherence to PoCs before and after the intervention using AuSCR data from 2010 to 2015. In total, 14/19 hospitals developed an action plan. There was no significant difference in amount or type of external facilitator support provided between hospitals that did, and did not, develop an action plan. There was no relationship between the amount of external facilitation and change in adherence to PoCs. Most (95%) hospitals accessed stroke registry performance data. In the Stroke123 study, the amount or type of external facilitation did not influence action plan development, and the amount of support did not influence the changes achieved in adherence to PoCs. Remote support may not add value for mQI

Immune activation in the peripheral blood of patients with acute ischemic stroke

Lymphocytes, neutrophils and macrophages are found in the brain in areas of acute ischaemic stroke. There is also evidence of modulation of systemic immune function after stroke, with post-stroke immunosuppression being observed. Because lymphocytes are activated in the peripheral immune compartment, before entry to the target organ, we reasoned that activated lymphocytes would be present in the circulation, prior to entering the brain, in patients after stroke. Because immune responses are controlled by regulatory mechanisms, we also reasoned that the post-stroke immunosuppression would involve T regulatory cells. The aim of the study was to look for evidence of immune activation and alterations in regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood of patients after acute ischaemic stroke, in comparison to age-matched healthy controls and patients with other neurological diseases (OND), and to determine the phenotype of the activated cells. The percentages of total and activated T cells, B cells, monocyte/ macrophages, and NK/NK-T cells were determined by labelling peripheral blood leukocytes with specific cell surface markers and analysis with 4-colour flow cytometry. The percentages of activated T cells and regulatory T cells were significantly increased in patients with ischemic stroke compared to healthy subjects and patients with OND. There was also an increase in the percentage of CCR7+ T cells. There were no significant differences in the activation of other cell types. In conclusion, there is evidence of immune activation and Treg cells in acute ischaemic stroke

Nurse-initiated acute stroke care in emergency departments

Background and Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention to improve triage, treatment, and transfer for patients with acute stroke admitted to the emergency department (ED). Methods: A pragmatic, blinded, multicenter, parallel group, cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted between July 2013 and September 2016 in 26 Australian EDs with stroke units and tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator) protocols. Hospitals, stratified by state and tPA volume, were randomized 1:1 to intervention or usual care by an independent statistician. Eligible ED patients had acute stroke \u3c48 hours from symptom onset and were admitted to the stroke unit via ED. Our nurse-initiated T3 intervention targeted (1) Triage to Australasian Triage Scale category 1 or 2; (2) Treatment: tPA eligibility screening and appropriate administration; clinical protocols for managing fever, hyperglycemia, and swallowing; (3) prompt (\u3c4 hours) stroke unit Transfer. It was implemented using (1) workshops to identify barriers and solutions; (2) face-to-face, online, and written education; (3) national and local clinical opinion leaders; and (4) email, telephone, and site visit follow-up. Outcomes were assessed at the patient level. Primary outcome: 90-day death or dependency (modified Rankin Scale score of ≥2); secondary outcomes: functional dependency (Barthel Index ≥95), health status (Short Form [36] Health Survey), and ED quality of care (Australasian Triage Scale; monitoring and management of tPA, fever, hyperglycemia, swallowing; prompt transfer). Intention-to-treat analysis adjusted for preintervention outcomes and ED clustering. Patients, outcome assessors, and statisticians were masked to group allocation. Results: Twenty-six EDs (13 intervention and 13 control) recruited 2242 patients (645 preintervention and 1597 postintervention). There were no statistically significant differences at follow-up for 90-day modified Rankin Scale (intervention: n=400 [53.5%]; control n=266 [48.7%]; P=0.24) or secondary outcomes. Conclusions: This evidence-based, theory-informed implementation trial, previously effective in stroke units, did not change patient outcomes or clinician behavior in the complex ED environment. Implementation trials are warranted to evaluate alternative approaches for improving ED stroke care. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: http://www.anzctr.org.au. Unique identifier: ACTRN1261400093969

Understanding the Role of External Facilitation to Drive Quality Improvement for Stroke Care in Hospitals

The use of external facilitation within the context of multicomponent quality improvement interventions (mQI) is growing. We aimed to evaluate the influence of external facilitation for improving the quality of acute stroke care. Clinicians from hospitals participating in mQI (Queensland, Australia) as part of the Stroke123 study were supported by external facilitators in a single, on-site workshop to review hospital performance against eight clinical processes of care (PoCs) collected in the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (AuSCR) and develop an action plan. Remote support (i.e., telephone/email) after the workshop was provided. As part of a process evaluation for Stroke123, we recorded the number and mode of contacts between clinicians and facilitators; type of support provided; and frequency of self-directed, hospital-level stroke registry data reviews. Analysis: We measured the association between amount/type of external facilitation, (i) development of action plans, and (ii) adherence to PoCs before and after the intervention using AuSCR data from 2010 to 2015. In total, 14/19 hospitals developed an action plan. There was no significant difference in amount or type of external facilitator support provided between hospitals that did, and did not, develop an action plan. There was no relationship between the amount of external facilitation and change in adherence to PoCs. Most (95%) hospitals accessed stroke registry performance data. In the Stroke123 study, the amount or type of external facilitation did not influence action plan development, and the amount of support did not influence the changes achieved in adherence to PoCs. Remote support may not add value for mQI

Nurse-initiated acute stroke care in emergency departments: The triage, treatment, and transfer implementation cluster randomized controlled trial

Background and Purpose-: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention to improve triage, treatment, and transfer for patients with acute stroke admitted to the emergency department (ED). Methods-: A pragmatic, blinded, multicenter, parallel group, cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted between July 2013 and September 2016 in 26 Australian EDs with stroke units and tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator) protocols. Hospitals, stratified by state and tPA volume, were randomized 1:1 to intervention or usual care by an independent statistician. Eligible ED patients had acute stroke =2); secondary outcomes: functional dependency (Barthel Index >=95), health status (Short Form [36] Health Survey), and ED quality of care (Australasian Triage Scale; monitoring and management of tPA, fever, hyperglycemia, swallowing; prompt transfer). Intention-to-treat analysis adjusted for preintervention outcomes and ED clustering. Patients, outcome assessors, and statisticians were masked to group allocation. Results-: Twenty-six EDs (13 intervention and 13 control) recruited 2242 patients (645 preintervention and 1597 postintervention). There were no statistically significant differences at follow-up for 90-day modified Rankin Scale (intervention: n=400 [53.5%]; control n=266 [48.7%]; P=0.24) or secondary outcomes. Conclusions-: This evidence-based, theory-informed implementation trial, previously effective in stroke units, did not change patient outcomes or clinician behavior in the complex ED environment. Implementation trials are warranted to evaluate alternative approaches for improving ED stroke care