Background
Recent advances in acute stroke treatment have resulted in improved survival and outcomes. However, recent Irish evidence indicates variation in stroke outcomes across hospitals. This indicates a need for continuous audit of stroke care to support quality improvement. In 2019, the Irish National Stroke Register was taken over by the National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA), with the aim of developing it into a National Stroke Audit. This follows international examples such as the UK Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP).
Aims
The aim is to develop a core minimum dataset for use in the Irish National Stroke Audit, benchmarked against international best practice, covering acute and non-acute care, and including structure, process, and outcome indicators. Research Design
In Phase 1, a minimum dataset for acute care will be identified, based on a scoping review of international practice and available guidelines and recommendations. Phase 2 will involve identifying a non-acute core dataset and an outcomes dataset, based on a scoping review of international practice, stakeholder engagement using qualitative approaches and systematic review of outcome measures. In Phase 3, a review of resourcing and data collection procedures used in stroke audit internationally, and local stakeholder engagement, will be used to produce an implementation strategy for data collection. The design will incorporate a continuous cycle of feedback and collaboration with the knowledge users, ensuring that the knowledge produced aligns with the requirements of the emerging audit.
Impact
This highly relevant and engaged applied partnership will ensure immediate translation of research findings to national data collection procedures. Resulting data will be the “gold standard” for evaluating stroke care in Ireland and informing policy, quality improvement initiatives, and health service delivery in stroke care across the trajectory of care, from hyper-acute care, through rehabilitation, to return to the community.
