Nursing aspects of cerebrovascular accidents (strokes): management, prevention and evidence-based best practices

Abstract

Stroke has emerged as a significant socio-medical issue in Neurology, with an estimated annual occurrence of 15 million cases worldwide. The acute period of stroke poses a high mortality rate of 20-30%. Furthermore, 70-80% of stroke survivors experience disabilities, necessitating the assistance of caregivers, and limiting their ability to live a full life. To address this, the development of more effective rehabilitation approaches is crucial to facilitate the recovery process and restore patients to their previous level of functioning. Unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as pernicious habits and non-compliance with medical recommendations, along with the neglect of preventive medical check-ups, contribute to the prevalence of stroke. However, advancements in rehabilitation technologies and models have the potential to revolutionize the field, enabling patients to acquire new recovery skills and achieve a faster return to normal life compared to traditional rehabilitation methods. Promoting a healthy lifestyle, including smoking cessation, a nutritious diet, and regular physical activity, plays a vital role in both primary and secondary stroke prevention. Controlling high blood pressure is essential for the general population and particularly critical during the acute phase of hemorrhagic stroke. Primordial prevention strategies encompass community-based education programs, identifying and treating atrial fibrillation, and leveraging digital health technologies. Acute stroke treatments may involve medications and surgical interventions, with specialized stroke units in hospitals demonstrating effectiveness in delivering optimal care. Patients with chronic conditions like stroke require long-term medication management, lifestyle adjustments, self-management skills, and support from caregivers and families to achieve optimal health outcomes. Rehabilitation interventions target the physical, speech-related, and cognitive functions of stroke survivors with disabilities. Home-based or community-based rehabilitation services, as well as remote rehabilitation, hold promise for post-stroke patients. The aim of the study: to investigate the specific aspects of nursing work in cerebrovascular accidents; in particular, investigate the principal aspects of prevention and treatment taking into account evidence-based best practices. Study objectives. 1. To determine the fundamental concepts of cerebrovascular accidents. 2. To determine the treatment and prognosis in cerebrovascular accidents. 3. To study evidence-based best practices in prevention, rehabilitation and management of patients with acute cerebrovascular accidents. 4. To investigate the specific aspects of nursing work with patients in the neurological department, including those with acute cerebrovascular accidents. 5. To study the symptoms in patients admitted with strokes of various etiology. 6. To study the time from the onset of the disease to hospital admission in neurological patients. The object of research. Patients with acute cerebrovascular accidents aged 23 to 95 years; in this setting, we have been investigating the symptoms found on admission in patients with strokes of various etiology and the time from the onset of the disease to admission. The subject of research. The special aspects and the role of nursing process in the treatment of neurological patients with strokes of various etiology and the impact of the time from the onset of the disease to admission on the course of the disease. The methods of study: general clinical assessments, special neurological methods, history of present disease and health history, clinical observation of neurological patients, physical examination, general health assessment, data comparison and data analysis, laboratory and instrumental tests, a comprehensive analytical method; and statistical research methods. The scientific and practical value of the study. During analysis of information about the work of nursing personnel with patients in the neurological department we have studied the fundamental concepts of cerebrovascular accidents, identified the characteristic features of treatment and prognosis in cerebrovascular accidents, reviewed the evidence-based best practices in prevention, rehabilitation and management of patients with acute cerebrovascular accidents; determined the specific aspects of nursing work with patients in the neurological department, including the patients with acute cerebrovascular accidents, and investigated the symptoms in patients admitted with strokes of various etiology and the time from the onset of the disease to admission of neurological patients