Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 15, 2026
Functional Evaluation of Biological Neurotoxins in Networked Cultures of Stem Cell-derived Central Nervous System Neurons
Published on: February 5, 2015
Advice on stroke provided by pharmacies in the United States: implications for treatment and care
Aaron J Monseau1, Charles Whiteman1, Todd J Crocco1
1From the Department of Emergency Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, and Emergency Medicine, Davis Memorial Hospital, Elkins, West Virginia.
Objectives:
Studies have found that some health lines and physician's offices have provided treatment advice other than "call 9-1-1 for an ambulance" to patients who present with a stroke scenario. We assessed the treatment advice given by selected pharmacies in the United States regarding stroke.
Methods:
The investigators called 73 randomly selected pharmacies and informed respondents that the caller's mother had experienced stroke-like symptoms several days earlier. Respondents were asked what should be done if the symptoms returned in the future and then debriefed on the deception afterward.
Results:
Seventy-one of the 73 pharmacies participated and only 20% (95% confidence interval 12-30) of respondents gave the ideal advice "call 9-1-1 for an ambulance."
Conclusions:
One out of every five pharmacy respondents across the United States recommended advice other than calling emergency medical services for a potential stroke scenario.
