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  • Title: Beyond conventional stroke guidelines: setting priorities.
    Author: Norrving B, Wester P, Sunnerhagen KS, Terént A, Sohlberg A, Berggren F, Wester PO, Asplund K, Stroke Guidelines Working Group, National Board of Health and Welfare, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Journal: Stroke; 2007 Jul; 38(7):2185-90. PubMed ID: 17540970.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Priorities in the care of stroke patients are often intuitive. An open and translucent priority-setting procedure would benefit patients, professionals, and decision-makers. Prioritization is an innovative part of the new Swedish national stroke guidelines. METHODS: Working groups identified diagnostic procedures, interventions and therapies in stroke care, assessed each one according to severity (needs), effect of action, level of scientific evidence and cost-effectiveness. The items were then ranked into priority groups from 1 (highest) to 10 (lowest). Procedures lacking evidence for routine clinical use were also identified (and entered a do-not-do list), as well as procedures in research and development. Resource allocations resulting from the priority-setting process were identified. RESULTS: Of 102 core procedures identified, 50 were assigned to high-priority groups (1-3), 29 to moderate priority groups (4-7) and 23 to low priority groups (8-10). Almost a quarter were graded 8 to 10, indicating that they may not necessarily be applied if resources are scarce. Twenty-eight procedures were assigned to the do-not-do list and 16 to the research and development list. CONCLUSIONS: In stroke services, it is possible to identify not only diagnostic procedures and interventions with high priority, but also a considerable number of items used today that have low priority or should not be used at all. Strict adherence to the guidelines would result in a substantial reallocation of resources from low-priority to high-priority areas.
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