{ "abstract": "Introduction\n\nAdherence to guidelines for stroke care varies, despite evidence that managing fever, glycemia (sugar), and conducting swallowing screening (FeSS) reduces mortality and disability. We established a quality improvement collaborative to improve care processes for ischemic stroke, with a focus on these three recommendations. We then added two additional care process activities: screening for activities of daily living (ADL) and depression, collectively defined as FeSS⁺.Methods\n\nIn this multicenter intervention study (n = 24), we retrospectively analyzed 30 consecutive patient records per center of ischemic stroke patients in 2019, pre-intervention (measurement period 1 [MP1]), and in 2022, post-intervention (measurement period 2 [MP2]). All hospitals received feedback on their MP1 performance, and an optional e-learning tool on FeSS⁺ was also offered. We compared adherence between MP1 and MP2 and assessed the impact of the e-learning tool.Results\n\nData were collected from 580 patients during MP1 and 588 patients during MP2. E-learning tools were delivered to teams at 18 hospitals (75%). Adherence improved for temperature measurement (18 to 25%, p = 0.004) and swallowing screening (36 to 59%, p < 0.001). No significant changes were observed for glycemia, ADL, or depression screening. Improvements in adherence to glycemia management, swallowing screening, and depression screening were observed only among hospitals that disseminated the e-learning tool (p = 0.01, <0.001, <0.001, respectively). Temperature measurement improved more in hospitals without e-learning (OR 2.62 vs. 1.27; p = 0.03).Discussion\n\nWe observed improvements in measuring temperature and swallowing screening after receiving feedback. The dissemination of the e-learning tool was associated with increased adherence to glycemic measurement, swallowing screening, and depression screening, underscoring the role of specific interventions. However, overall adherence remained low, highlighting the need for continued quality improvement.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "Department of Public Health, Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.", "Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.", "Department of Quality Management, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg, Genk, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, AZ Alma, Eeklo, Belgium.", "Department of IT and Care, Jan Yperman Hospital, Ypres, Belgium.", "Department of Quality Management, AZ Glorieux, Ronse, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, AZ Sint Blasius, Dendermonde, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium.", "NEUR Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, Imelda Hospital, Bonheiden, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, RZ Heilig Hart, Tienen, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, AZ Maria Middelares, Ghent, Belgium.", "Department of Nursing and Paramedics, AZ Sint Maarten, Mechelen, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, Kliniek Sint Jan, Brussels, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, AZ Sint-Lucas, Bruges, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, AZ Mol, Mol, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, AZ Oostend, Ostend, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, AZ Groeninge, Kortrijk, Belgium.", "Neurovascular Center and Stroke Unit, Department of Neurology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp (Edegem), Belgium.", "Research Group on Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.", "Department of Quality Management, Sint-Franciscus Ziekenhuis, Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, ZAS Middelheim, Antwerp, Belgium.", "Department of Nursing and Paramedics, AZ Sint Elisabeth, Zottegem, Belgium.", "Department of Neurology, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwziekenhuis, Aalst, Belgium.", "Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium." ], "article_type": "research article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 29, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0, 1 ], "name": "Charlotte Lens" }, { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Ellen Coeckelberghs" }, { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Deborah Seys" }, { "affs": [ 0, 2 ], "name": "Kris Vanhaecht" }, { "affs": [ 3 ], "name": "Kim Bekelaar" }, { "affs": [ 4 ], "name": "Roel Blondia" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Tom Bogaert" }, { "affs": [ 6 ], "name": "Laura Boutens" }, { "affs": [ 7 ], "name": "Joke Caudron" }, { "affs": [ 8 ], "name": "Romina Demontis" }, { "affs": [ 9, 10 ], "name": "Sylvie De Raedt" }, { "affs": [ 11, 12 ], "name": "Laurens Dobbels" }, { "affs": [ 13 ], "name": "Anneke Govaerts" }, { "affs": [ 14 ], "name": "Dimitri Hemelsoet" }, { "affs": [ 15 ], "name": "Marijke Huskens" }, { "affs": [ 16 ], "name": "Petra Olislaegers" }, { "affs": [ 17 ], "name": "Jean Francois Poma" }, { "affs": [ 18 ], "name": "Leen Sinnaeve" }, { "affs": [ 19 ], "name": "Charlotte Swinnen" }, { "affs": [ 20 ], "name": "Annelies Terwecoren" }, { "affs": [ 21, 22, 23 ], "name": "Peter Vanacker" }, { "affs": [ 24 ], "name": "Noa Vandevenne" }, { "affs": [ 25 ], "name": "Wendy Van Daele" }, { "affs": [ 26 ], "name": "Jens Van Elsuë" }, { "affs": [ 27 ], "name": "Jan Vynckier" }, { "affs": [ 22, 23 ], "name": "Laetitia Yperzeele" }, { "affs": [ 1, 12 ], "name": "Jelle Demeestere" }, { "affs": [ 28 ], "name": "Caroline Weltens" }, { "affs": [ 1, 12 ], "name": "Robin Lemmens" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/f8aw6a59c8cr3.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.3389/fneur.2026.1830076", "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13680235", "id": "f8aw6a59c8cr3", "issns": [ "1664-2295" ], "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903223", "language": "eng", "licence": "CC-BY", "licence_label": "CC BY", "licence_source": "article", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "openalex", "2713|Acute Ischemic Stroke Management" ] ], "openalex": "W7220665096", "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13680235?pdf=render", "pmcid": "PMC13680235", "pmid": "42903223", "published": "2026-10-06", "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/f8aw6a59c8cr3.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:57Z", "native_id": "MED:42903223", "source": "europepmc", "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903223" }, { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:16Z", "native_id": "10.3389/fneur.2026.1830076", "source": "crossref", "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2026.1830076/full" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "medicine", "origin": "openalex:2713|Acute Ischemic Stroke Management", "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health" } ], "title": "Specific interventions as part of a quality improvement collaborative enhance care for ischemic stroke patients.", "title_text": "Specific interventions as part of a quality improvement collaborative enhance care for ischemic stroke patients.", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:16Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/f8aw6a59c8cr3", "venue": "Frontiers in neurology", "versions": [] }