A telestroke network enhances recruitment into acute stroke clinical trials

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and Purpose:Acute stroke clinical trials are conducted primarily at academic medical centers. As a result, patients living in rural areas are excluded from participation, Results may not be generalizable to nonacademic settings, and studies may be slow to recruit subjects. Telemedicine can provide rural patients with emergency neurovascular consultation. We sought to determine whether telemedicine facilitates enrollment into acute stroke trials. Methods-We have an established rural "hub and spoke" telestroke network. From 2005 to 2009, we participated in 2 time-sensitive acute stroke trials: Factor Seven for Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke and Minocycline to Improve Neurological Outcome. Candidates for the 2 trials could be identified at either the hub or at the spokes, with patients presenting to the latter transferred to the hub for enrollment. We analyzed the times from symptom onset to consultation via telemedicine, arrival at the hub, and to initiation of a study drug to determine the impact of telemedicine on study enrollment. Results-Nineteen of 28 subjects enrolled in the 2 trials were identified initially at an outside facility via a telemedicine link. An additional 9 candidates identified by telemedicine could not be enrolled because of transportation time. Arrival at the hub was 127 minutes later (median, 207 [95% CI, 145 to 255] versus 80 [95% CI, 55 to 142]; P=0.0002), and study drug was started 74 minutes later (median, 298 [95% CI, 218 to 352] versus 225 [95% CI, 147 to 330]; P=0.05) for subjects who were identified via telemedicine and required transport to the hub compared with local subjects who presented directly to the hub. Conclusions:s: Telemedicine can enhance enrollment into time-sensitive acute stroke trials. However, transfer of subjects to the hub Results in delays in study initiation for some and precludes enrollment for others similar to the weaknesses of "ship and drip" thrombolytic strategies. To save time, efforts are needed to enroll clinical trial subjects and begin the research drug at the remote site under telemedicine guidance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)566-569
Number of pages4
JournalStroke
Volume41
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2010

Keywords

  • Clinical trials
  • Stroke
  • Telemedicine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Advanced and Specialized Nursing

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A telestroke network enhances recruitment into acute stroke clinical trials'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this