Abstract 270: Evaluating the Knowledge of Stroke Management among Nigerian Medical Doctors

Introduction According to the World Health Organization, Stroke is the 2nd leading cause of death, responsible for approximately 11% of total deaths worldwide (1). In Nigeria, stroke accounts for 4% ‐ 17% of medical deaths (2).Effective stroke management is essential to reduce morbidity and mortalit...

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Main Authors: Aliu Opeyemi Yakubu, Oreoluwa Morakinyo, Chibuike Nwachukwu, Ismat Ghazal, Oluwakemi Olalude, Chidimma Ezegwui, Augustine Amuta, Rufus Akinyemi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-11-01
Series:Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology
Online Access:https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/SVIN.03.suppl_2.270
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author Aliu Opeyemi Yakubu
Oreoluwa Morakinyo
Chibuike Nwachukwu
Ismat Ghazal
Oluwakemi Olalude
Chidimma Ezegwui
Augustine Amuta
Rufus Akinyemi
author_facet Aliu Opeyemi Yakubu
Oreoluwa Morakinyo
Chibuike Nwachukwu
Ismat Ghazal
Oluwakemi Olalude
Chidimma Ezegwui
Augustine Amuta
Rufus Akinyemi
author_sort Aliu Opeyemi Yakubu
collection DOAJ
description Introduction According to the World Health Organization, Stroke is the 2nd leading cause of death, responsible for approximately 11% of total deaths worldwide (1). In Nigeria, stroke accounts for 4% ‐ 17% of medical deaths (2).Effective stroke management is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality. Few trained neurologists in Nigeria who are mostly concentrated in the cities, making non‐specialists the backbone of initial acute stroke assessment and management in Nigeria. Physician‐related factors have been identified as one of the factors leading to suboptimal stroke care. There is limited literature analysing the proficiency of non‐specialists in the optimal management of stroke in Nigeria. This study was vital for the evaluation of the knowledge of acute stroke care among medical doctors and the factors responsible for the disparity in their skills. Methods A descriptive cross‐sectional survey was conducted among 404 medical doctors across all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria using the Acute Stroke Management Questionnaire (ASMaQ). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and simple logistic regression to predict the relationship between independent variables and the outcome variable (good knowledge vs poor knowledge). Results 39.1 % of respondents encounter stroke patients a few times a month, 52% work without a neurologist ,and 88.4% work in hospitals without stroke units. 67% (95% CI =63% – 72%) of respondents had good overall knowledge of stroke management. General Stroke Knowledge (GSK) domain had the largest percentage of good knowledge (88.6%, 95% CI= 85‐92%), followed by Hyperacute Stroke Management (HSM), (52.5%, 95% CI=47.3% – 57.7%) and Advanced Stroke Management (ASM), (49.5%, 95%CI= 49.5% –54.4%).Most participants (>85%) demonstrated good knowledge of stroke signs and symptoms. Only 21.8% and 4.2% of respondents work in facilities equipped with intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy respectively. 92% erroneously believe that a full neurological examination is essential in acute stroke while 33.4% demonstrated poor knowledge of blood pressure control in patients with acute stroke .Working in Primary Healthcare Centre (PHCs) and Government Hospital was a significant predictor of overall poor knowledge of stroke. Compared to Private Hospitals, working in Government Hospitals had 1.98 times the odds of poor knowledge (P = 0.011) and medical doctors in Primary Healthcare Practice had 2.29 times the odds of poor knowledge than those in Tertiary Hospitals (P = 0.045). Conclusion Despite the fact that the majority demonstrated good knowledge of stroke management, there is a significant knowledge deficit in the ASM domain. This study highlights the need for regular retraining and professional development of medical doctors in acute stroke management in Nigeria. There is an urgent need to address the critical shortage of neurologists in the country and improve access to thrombolysis care in order to reduce the burden of stroke related‐morbidity and mortality.
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spelling doaj.art-315245fd975b4ba68da6dad5ae01a55e2024-04-05T10:51:57ZengWileyStroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology2694-57462023-11-013S210.1161/SVIN.03.suppl_2.270Abstract 270: Evaluating the Knowledge of Stroke Management among Nigerian Medical DoctorsAliu Opeyemi Yakubu0Oreoluwa Morakinyo1Chibuike Nwachukwu2Ismat Ghazal3Oluwakemi Olalude4Chidimma Ezegwui5Augustine Amuta6Rufus Akinyemi7University Hospital Wishaw Wisconsinshaw United KingdomUniversity of Texas Medical Branch Galveston Texas United StatesGeneral Surgery St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London United KingdomCollege of Medicine University of Ibadan Oyo State NigeriaCollege of Medicine University of Ibadan Oyo State NigeriaNHS Blood and Transplant London United KingdomPrince George's County Health Department Maryland United StatesInstitute for Advanced Medical Research and Training College of Medicine University of Ibadan Ibadan Oyo state NigeriaIntroduction According to the World Health Organization, Stroke is the 2nd leading cause of death, responsible for approximately 11% of total deaths worldwide (1). In Nigeria, stroke accounts for 4% ‐ 17% of medical deaths (2).Effective stroke management is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality. Few trained neurologists in Nigeria who are mostly concentrated in the cities, making non‐specialists the backbone of initial acute stroke assessment and management in Nigeria. Physician‐related factors have been identified as one of the factors leading to suboptimal stroke care. There is limited literature analysing the proficiency of non‐specialists in the optimal management of stroke in Nigeria. This study was vital for the evaluation of the knowledge of acute stroke care among medical doctors and the factors responsible for the disparity in their skills. Methods A descriptive cross‐sectional survey was conducted among 404 medical doctors across all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria using the Acute Stroke Management Questionnaire (ASMaQ). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and simple logistic regression to predict the relationship between independent variables and the outcome variable (good knowledge vs poor knowledge). Results 39.1 % of respondents encounter stroke patients a few times a month, 52% work without a neurologist ,and 88.4% work in hospitals without stroke units. 67% (95% CI =63% – 72%) of respondents had good overall knowledge of stroke management. General Stroke Knowledge (GSK) domain had the largest percentage of good knowledge (88.6%, 95% CI= 85‐92%), followed by Hyperacute Stroke Management (HSM), (52.5%, 95% CI=47.3% – 57.7%) and Advanced Stroke Management (ASM), (49.5%, 95%CI= 49.5% –54.4%).Most participants (>85%) demonstrated good knowledge of stroke signs and symptoms. Only 21.8% and 4.2% of respondents work in facilities equipped with intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy respectively. 92% erroneously believe that a full neurological examination is essential in acute stroke while 33.4% demonstrated poor knowledge of blood pressure control in patients with acute stroke .Working in Primary Healthcare Centre (PHCs) and Government Hospital was a significant predictor of overall poor knowledge of stroke. Compared to Private Hospitals, working in Government Hospitals had 1.98 times the odds of poor knowledge (P = 0.011) and medical doctors in Primary Healthcare Practice had 2.29 times the odds of poor knowledge than those in Tertiary Hospitals (P = 0.045). Conclusion Despite the fact that the majority demonstrated good knowledge of stroke management, there is a significant knowledge deficit in the ASM domain. This study highlights the need for regular retraining and professional development of medical doctors in acute stroke management in Nigeria. There is an urgent need to address the critical shortage of neurologists in the country and improve access to thrombolysis care in order to reduce the burden of stroke related‐morbidity and mortality.https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/SVIN.03.suppl_2.270
spellingShingle Aliu Opeyemi Yakubu
Oreoluwa Morakinyo
Chibuike Nwachukwu
Ismat Ghazal
Oluwakemi Olalude
Chidimma Ezegwui
Augustine Amuta
Rufus Akinyemi
Abstract 270: Evaluating the Knowledge of Stroke Management among Nigerian Medical Doctors
Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology
title Abstract 270: Evaluating the Knowledge of Stroke Management among Nigerian Medical Doctors
title_full Abstract 270: Evaluating the Knowledge of Stroke Management among Nigerian Medical Doctors
title_fullStr Abstract 270: Evaluating the Knowledge of Stroke Management among Nigerian Medical Doctors
title_full_unstemmed Abstract 270: Evaluating the Knowledge of Stroke Management among Nigerian Medical Doctors
title_short Abstract 270: Evaluating the Knowledge of Stroke Management among Nigerian Medical Doctors
title_sort abstract 270 evaluating the knowledge of stroke management among nigerian medical doctors
url https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/SVIN.03.suppl_2.270
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