The Post-Stroke Checklist: longitudinal use in routine clinical practice during first year after stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Limited research exists on the Post-Stroke Checklist (PSC) for longitudinal stroke follow-up in clinical settings.
• This study mapped stroke-related health problem prevalence and interventions using the PSC at 3 and 12 months post-stroke.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of the Post-Stroke Checklist (PSC) for tracking stroke recovery and health issues over time.
• To assess the prevalence of stroke-related health problems and the effectiveness of interventions at 3 and 12 months post-stroke.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive nurse-led follow-up using a 14-item PSC was conducted at 3 and 12 months post-stroke for patients discharged in 2018-2019.
• Time consumption, health problems, and interventions were recorded, with 12-month problems categorized as new, persistent, or resolved compared to 3-month data.

Main Results:

• Of 146 patients completing follow-up, 40% had new stroke-related health problems at 12 months, most commonly in secondary prevention and life after stroke domains.
• Stroke recurrence was 7.5%, 43% had hypertension, and smoking cessation was low. New interventions were provided to 53% at 12 months versus 84% at 3 months.

Conclusions:

• Despite a decrease beyond 3 months, two-thirds of patients experienced stroke-related health problems at 1 year, underscoring the value of continuous PSC-based follow-up.
• Current follow-up strategies are insufficient for achieving secondary prevention targets, necessitating a more intensive approach.