Conclusion : We found that interventions in which nurses had a primary role were effective on improving medical and behavioral risk factors , as well as knowledge of risk factors as part of secondary prevention of stroke
Background and purpose : Among members of the health care team , nurses play a large role in actively engaging stroke survivors in secondary stroke prevention programs .
This systematic review and meta- analysis examines the effectiveness of interventions in which nurses have a primary role on modification of risk factors among stroke survivors .
Nurse-Led, Telephone-Based, Secondary Preventive Follow-Up after Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack Improves Blood Pressure and LDL Cholesterol: Results from the First 12 Months of the Randomized, Controlled NAILED Stroke Risk Factor Trial
Background Enhanced secondary preventive follow-up after stroke or transient ischemic attack ( TIA ) is necessary for improved adherence to recommendations regarding blood pressure ( BP ) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) levels . We investigated whether nurse-led , telephone-based follow-up was more efficient than usual care at improving BP and LDL-C levels at 12 months after hospital discharge . Methods We r and omized 537 patients to either nurse-led , telephone-based follow-up ( intervention ) or usual care ( control ) .  BP and LDL-C measurements were performed at 1 month ( baseline ) and 12 months post-discharge . Intervention group patients who did not meet target values at baseline received additional follow-up , including titration of medication and lifestyle counselling , to reach treatment goals ( BP < 140/90 mmHg , LDL-C < 2.5 mmol/L ) . Results At 12 months , mean systolic BP , diastolic BP and LDL-C was 3.3 ( 95 % CI 0.3 to 6.3 ) mmHg , 2.3 mmHg ( 95 % CI 0.5 to 4.2 ) and 0.3 mmol/L ( 95 % CI 0.1 to 0.4 ) lower in the intervention group compared to controls . Among participants with values above the treatment goal at baseline , the difference in systolic BP and LDL-C was more pronounced ( 8.0 mmHg , 95 % CI 4.0 to 12.1 , and 0.6 mmol/L , 95 % CI 0.4 to 0.9 ) . A larger proportion of the intervention group reached the treatment goal for systolic BP ( 68.5 vs. 56.8 % , p = 0.008 ) and LDL-C ( 69.7 % vs. 50.4 % , p < 0.001 ) . Conclusions Nurse-led , telephone-based secondary preventive follow-up , including medication adjustment , was significantly more efficient than usual care at improving BP and LDL-C levels by 12 months post-discharge . Trial Registration IS RCT N Registry IS RCT
Conclusion : We found that interventions in which nurses had a primary role were effective on improving medical and behavioral risk factors , as well as knowledge of risk factors as part of secondary prevention of stroke
Background and purpose : Among members of the health care team , nurses play a large role in actively engaging stroke survivors in secondary stroke prevention programs .
This systematic review and meta- analysis examines the effectiveness of interventions in which nurses have a primary role on modification of risk factors among stroke survivors .