FACTORS RELATED TO ONSET ARRIVAL TIME IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE STROKE

Abstract

The study aims to explore onset arrival time and factors related to onset arrival time in patients with acute stroke. Dodd’s symptom management model was used as the research framework. Purposive sampling was used to select 76 transporters of patients with acute stroke who were admitted to the acute stroke unit, RamathibodiHospital.The following instruments were used to collect data: the demographic data assessment form, the hospital visit records, the perception of stroke questionnaire and the perception of stroke severity questionnaire. Data were analyzed in terms of frequency, percentage, mean, mode, standard deviation, Chi-square and Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient.

The findings of this study showed that onset arrival timewithin 180 minutes, mean averagewas 95.29 minutes. Participants had a correct perception of stroke and a moderate score of perception of stroke severity. In addition, the perception of stroke and perception of stroke severity were negatively related to onset arrival time at .05 and .01 level of statistical significance respectively. Age, education level, income of the subject and patient transfer system were not related to onset arrival time. It could be explained that transporters who had a correct perception of stroke and high perception of stroke severity would have a reduced onset arrival time to the hospital.

The findings of this study suggest that health care providers should provide information to increase perception of a stroke, and management for family members of persons who are at risk of stroke in order to decrease onset of arrival time.