Neurointerventional surveys between 2000 and 2023: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neurointerventional research
• Medical survey methodology

Background:

• Surveys are vital in neurointervention for understanding physician/patient attitudes and real-world practices, especially where evidence-based guidelines are limited.
• While valuable, survey studies carry an inherent risk of bias.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate neurointerventional surveys.
• Assess key themes, participant characteristics, response rates, and reporting of quality indicators.

Main Methods:

• A PRISMA-compliant systematic review of PubMed-searched neurointerventional surveys (2000-2023).
• Analyzed survey topics, design, respondent demographics, and adherence to Consensus-Based Checklist for Reporting of Survey Studies (CROSS) criteria.
• Examined response rates and participant numbers in relation to study characteristics.

Main Results:

• 122 surveys were analyzed, with a significant increase in publications from 2000 to 2023.
• Stroke (41.8%) and aneurysm treatment (40.2%) were the most common topics.
• Median response rate was 58.5%, with a median of 79 respondents. Reporting of methodological details like questionnaires (55.7%), response rates (73%), and duplicate response prevention (46.7%) varied.

Conclusions:

• Neurointerventional surveys are increasingly used to capture real-world practice patterns, particularly for stroke and aneurysm treatment.
• Implementing best-practice guidelines, such as the CROSS checklist, can improve the quality and consistency of survey research in this field.