Background
Study aims
Methods
Study design
Setting | Method | Data collected |
---|---|---|
UoB (telephone call to General Practice) | Unannounced simulated patient telephone call | Receptionists response to stroke symptoms |
UoB (telephone call to General Practice) | Voice recording | Record the General Practice out-of-hours message |
General Practice | Questionnaire (anonymous) | Receptionist demographic data. |
Receptionist knowledge and planned response to stroke and a variety of other symptoms | ||
General Practice | Focus Groups | Receptionist views on their role in the triage of patients and their views on training for receptionists |
General Practice | Interviews | The views of other Primary Care staff on the role, skills and potential of reception staff |
Study population
Unannounced simulated patient telephone calls
ID | Brain territory of stroke | Who called | Vignette details* | Symptoms (no. FAST symptoms) | Perceived ease of recognition^ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Anterior | Adult child | I think my Mom’s having a stroke: | Facial droop (right side), right arm weakness and speech disturbance (3 FAST symptoms) | Easy |
• Her mouth is drooping | |||||
• Her speech is slurred | |||||
• She can’t use her right arm | |||||
2 | Anterior | Patient | I think I need to see the Doctor: | Arm weakness (1 FAST symptom) | Difficult |
• My arm’s gone all weak | |||||
3 | Posterior | Patient | I don’t know what to do: | Vomiting, vertigo and visual field defect (0 FAST symptoms) | Difficult |
• I keep throwing up | |||||
• I’m feverish | |||||
• I have double vision | |||||
4 | Anterior | Patient | I’m not sure what to do: | Facial droop (left side) (1 FAST symptom) | Moderately easy |
• When I look in the mirror my reflection looks funny | |||||
5 | Posterior | Patient | What shall I do I think I’m having a stroke? | Vomiting, vertigo and visual field defect (0 FAST symptoms) | Difficult |
• I’ve thrown up | |||||
• The room is spinning | |||||
• I have double vision | |||||
6 | Anterior | Adult child | Do you think my Father needs to see the Doctor? | Right arm weakness and speech disturbance (2 FAST symptoms) | Easy |
• He’s having difficulty speaking | |||||
• He can’t lift his arm up | |||||
7 | Anterior | Patient | I think I need to see the Doctor my Daughter tells me that: | Facial droop (left side) and arm weakness (2 FAST symptoms) | Moderately easy |
• My face is all droopy (left side) | |||||
• I keep dropping things | |||||
8 | Anterior | Adult child | Can I make an appointment for my Father? | Facial droop (right side) and speech disturbance (2 FAST symptoms) | Easy |
• His face is all lopsided (right side) | |||||
• He’s having trouble speaking | |||||
9 | Anterior | Adult child | I think my Mom needs to see the Doctor: | Speech disturbance (1 FAST symptom) | Moderately easy |
• Her speech is all slurred | |||||
10 | Anterior | Adult child | Shall I bring my Mother in to see the Doctor? | Facial droop (right side), right arm weakness and speech disturbance (3 FAST symptoms) | Easy |
• She can’t use her right arm | |||||
• She keeps dropping things | |||||
• Her face is really funny (right side) | |||||
• She’s talking a load of rubbish |