Specific interventions as part of a quality improvement collaborative enhance care for ischemic stroke patients.

@article{lens2026specific,
  title = {{Specific interventions as part of a quality improvement collaborative enhance care for ischemic stroke patients.}},
  author = {Charlotte Lens and Ellen Coeckelberghs and Deborah Seys and Kris Vanhaecht and Kim Bekelaar and Roel Blondia and Tom Bogaert and Laura Boutens and Joke Caudron and Romina Demontis and Sylvie De Raedt and Laurens Dobbels and Anneke Govaerts and Dimitri Hemelsoet and Marijke Huskens and Petra Olislaegers and Jean Francois Poma and Leen Sinnaeve and Charlotte Swinnen and Annelies Terwecoren and Peter Vanacker and Noa Vandevenne and Wendy Van Daele and Jens Van Elsuë and Jan Vynckier and Laetitia Yperzeele and Jelle Demeestere and Caroline Weltens and Robin Lemmens},
  journal = {Frontiers in neurology},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fneur.2026.1830076},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903223},
  note = {CC BY},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Specific interventions as part of a quality improvement collaborative enhance care for ischemic stroke patients.
AU  - Charlotte Lens
AU  - Ellen Coeckelberghs
AU  - Deborah Seys
AU  - Kris Vanhaecht
AU  - Kim Bekelaar
AU  - Roel Blondia
AU  - Tom Bogaert
AU  - Laura Boutens
AU  - Joke Caudron
AU  - Romina Demontis
AU  - Sylvie De Raedt
AU  - Laurens Dobbels
AU  - Anneke Govaerts
AU  - Dimitri Hemelsoet
AU  - Marijke Huskens
AU  - Petra Olislaegers
AU  - Jean Francois Poma
AU  - Leen Sinnaeve
AU  - Charlotte Swinnen
AU  - Annelies Terwecoren
AU  - Peter Vanacker
AU  - Noa Vandevenne
AU  - Wendy Van Daele
AU  - Jens Van Elsuë
AU  - Jan Vynckier
AU  - Laetitia Yperzeele
AU  - Jelle Demeestere
AU  - Caroline Weltens
AU  - Robin Lemmens
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/06
JO  - Frontiers in neurology
DO  - 10.3389/fneur.2026.1830076
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903223
AB  - Introduction  Adherence 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  In 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  Data 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  We 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.
SN  - 1664-2295
ER  -