In order to frame the study and enable comparisons across countries and regions these indicators were chosen in discussion with colleagues at King’s College London and SAFE to reference different parts of the stroke care ‘pathway’, from prevention to follow-up care and support.
| Indicator | Report section |
| 1. Campaigns to encourage healthy lifestyles (e.g. blood pressure and cholesterol awareness and monitoring) | 2.1 |
| 2. Blood pressure is checked regularly and treated according to guideline | 2.2 |
| 3. Adults with atrial fibrillation at increased risk of stroke are treated appropriately with anticoagulants | 2.3 |
| 4. Public campaigns and professional education emphasise that stroke is a medical emergency | 3.1 and 3.2 |
| 5. Emergency services (ambulance) staff are trained to screen patients for suspected stroke/TIA and arrange immediate transfer to hospital | 3.2 |
| 6. In-hospital services offer organised stroke care (stroke unit care) | 4.1 |
| 7. Patients are assessed for thrombolysis and receive it (if clinically indicated) as soon as possible after the start of stroke symptoms | 4.2 |
| 8. Patients with suspected TIA are urgently assessed for subsequent stroke risk | 2.4 |
| 9. Patients are assessed for rehabilitation needs within the first three days after admission and provided with rehabilitation by multidisciplinary staff on the basis of need | 5.3 |
| 10. Early discharge from acute care (to inpatient rehabilitation unit or to community) is supported for medically stable patients with mild or moderate impairment | 5.4 |
| 11. Patients are offered a review after the stroke for assessment of medical and rehabilitation needs | 5.5 |
| 12. Patients and their family/carers have access to practical and emotional support | 5.7 |
