Stroke aftercare in Germany: findings from an online survey in the outpatient setting of a neurovascular network

The evidence-based acute treatment of stroke patients in Germany is carried out according to standardized algorithms in more than 300 certified stroke units, and its quality is repeatedly assured by the German Stroke Society (DSG) and others. However, nationally structured and uniform stroke afterca...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: John-Ih Lee, Robin Jansen, Jan F. Cornelius, Hubert Schelzig, Bernd Turowski, Rüdiger J. Seitz, Til Menge, Philipp Albrecht, Sebastian Jander, Jan Sobesky, Hans-Jürgen von Giesen, Marcel Dihné, Lars Wojtecki, Tristan Kölsche, Sajjad Muhammad, Tobias Ruck, Sven G. Meuth, Michael Gliem
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1507003/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850069866810179584
author John-Ih Lee
Robin Jansen
Jan F. Cornelius
Hubert Schelzig
Bernd Turowski
Rüdiger J. Seitz
Til Menge
Philipp Albrecht
Philipp Albrecht
Sebastian Jander
Jan Sobesky
Hans-Jürgen von Giesen
Marcel Dihné
Lars Wojtecki
Lars Wojtecki
Tristan Kölsche
Sajjad Muhammad
Tobias Ruck
Sven G. Meuth
Michael Gliem
author_facet John-Ih Lee
Robin Jansen
Jan F. Cornelius
Hubert Schelzig
Bernd Turowski
Rüdiger J. Seitz
Til Menge
Philipp Albrecht
Philipp Albrecht
Sebastian Jander
Jan Sobesky
Hans-Jürgen von Giesen
Marcel Dihné
Lars Wojtecki
Lars Wojtecki
Tristan Kölsche
Sajjad Muhammad
Tobias Ruck
Sven G. Meuth
Michael Gliem
author_sort John-Ih Lee
collection DOAJ
description The evidence-based acute treatment of stroke patients in Germany is carried out according to standardized algorithms in more than 300 certified stroke units, and its quality is repeatedly assured by the German Stroke Society (DSG) and others. However, nationally structured and uniform stroke aftercare programs are missing, despite evidence that they contribute to the success of rehabilitation and improvement of everyday life. We used a 27-item online questionnaire, which was mailed to 4,195 outpatient physicians in the catchment area of the neurovascular network Neurovascular Network North Rhine plus (NEVANO+) located in the western part of Germany to assess actual structures of stroke aftercare, identify barriers, and possible solutions. Based on 152 completed anonymous answers to the questionnaire, a descriptive evaluation revealed that general practitioners and neurologists are seen to be responsible for stroke aftercare. Important improvement aspects, among others, were identified in intersectoral cooperation, the use of a post-stroke checklist, and connections to local self-help organizations. Stroke units could play a key role in stroke aftercare by providing these checklists, connecting self-help organizations, and offering education and coaching for supportive coordinating staff. Furthermore, existing neurovascular networks can be expanded to include rehabilitation clinics, geriatric clinics, and outpatient physicians to improve intersectoral communication, collaboration, and post-stroke care. Further studies should investigate whether intersectoral cooperation, checklists, and cooperation with self-help organizations within an extended neurovascular network have a positive impact on stroke aftercare and patients’ quality of life.
format Article
id doaj-art-7e06f81e475c47a5a0ce1074c4ee5ccc
institution DOAJ
issn 1664-2295
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Neurology
spelling doaj-art-7e06f81e475c47a5a0ce1074c4ee5ccc2025-08-20T02:47:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-03-011610.3389/fneur.2025.15070031507003Stroke aftercare in Germany: findings from an online survey in the outpatient setting of a neurovascular networkJohn-Ih Lee0Robin Jansen1Jan F. Cornelius2Hubert Schelzig3Bernd Turowski4Rüdiger J. Seitz5Til Menge6Philipp Albrecht7Philipp Albrecht8Sebastian Jander9Jan Sobesky10Hans-Jürgen von Giesen11Marcel Dihné12Lars Wojtecki13Lars Wojtecki14Tristan Kölsche15Sajjad Muhammad16Tobias Ruck17Sven G. Meuth18Michael Gliem19Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Maria Hilf Clinic, Mönchengladbach, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Marienhospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Johanna-Etienne-Hospital, Neuss, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Maria Hilf Clinic, Krefeld, Germany0Department of Neurology, St. Lukas Klinik, Solingen, Germany1Departmemt of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Hospital Zum Heiligen Geist, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Kempen, Germany2Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyThe evidence-based acute treatment of stroke patients in Germany is carried out according to standardized algorithms in more than 300 certified stroke units, and its quality is repeatedly assured by the German Stroke Society (DSG) and others. However, nationally structured and uniform stroke aftercare programs are missing, despite evidence that they contribute to the success of rehabilitation and improvement of everyday life. We used a 27-item online questionnaire, which was mailed to 4,195 outpatient physicians in the catchment area of the neurovascular network Neurovascular Network North Rhine plus (NEVANO+) located in the western part of Germany to assess actual structures of stroke aftercare, identify barriers, and possible solutions. Based on 152 completed anonymous answers to the questionnaire, a descriptive evaluation revealed that general practitioners and neurologists are seen to be responsible for stroke aftercare. Important improvement aspects, among others, were identified in intersectoral cooperation, the use of a post-stroke checklist, and connections to local self-help organizations. Stroke units could play a key role in stroke aftercare by providing these checklists, connecting self-help organizations, and offering education and coaching for supportive coordinating staff. Furthermore, existing neurovascular networks can be expanded to include rehabilitation clinics, geriatric clinics, and outpatient physicians to improve intersectoral communication, collaboration, and post-stroke care. Further studies should investigate whether intersectoral cooperation, checklists, and cooperation with self-help organizations within an extended neurovascular network have a positive impact on stroke aftercare and patients’ quality of life.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1507003/fullstrokeneurorehabiliationaftercare and long term careneurovascularoutpatient care
spellingShingle John-Ih Lee
Robin Jansen
Jan F. Cornelius
Hubert Schelzig
Bernd Turowski
Rüdiger J. Seitz
Til Menge
Philipp Albrecht
Philipp Albrecht
Sebastian Jander
Jan Sobesky
Hans-Jürgen von Giesen
Marcel Dihné
Lars Wojtecki
Lars Wojtecki
Tristan Kölsche
Sajjad Muhammad
Tobias Ruck
Sven G. Meuth
Michael Gliem
Stroke aftercare in Germany: findings from an online survey in the outpatient setting of a neurovascular network
Frontiers in Neurology
stroke
neurorehabiliation
aftercare and long term care
neurovascular
outpatient care
title Stroke aftercare in Germany: findings from an online survey in the outpatient setting of a neurovascular network
title_full Stroke aftercare in Germany: findings from an online survey in the outpatient setting of a neurovascular network
title_fullStr Stroke aftercare in Germany: findings from an online survey in the outpatient setting of a neurovascular network
title_full_unstemmed Stroke aftercare in Germany: findings from an online survey in the outpatient setting of a neurovascular network
title_short Stroke aftercare in Germany: findings from an online survey in the outpatient setting of a neurovascular network
title_sort stroke aftercare in germany findings from an online survey in the outpatient setting of a neurovascular network
topic stroke
neurorehabiliation
aftercare and long term care
neurovascular
outpatient care
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1507003/full
work_keys_str_mv AT johnihlee strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT robinjansen strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT janfcornelius strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT hubertschelzig strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT berndturowski strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT rudigerjseitz strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT tilmenge strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT philippalbrecht strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT philippalbrecht strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT sebastianjander strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT jansobesky strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT hansjurgenvongiesen strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT marceldihne strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT larswojtecki strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT larswojtecki strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT tristankolsche strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT sajjadmuhammad strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT tobiasruck strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT svengmeuth strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork
AT michaelgliem strokeaftercareingermanyfindingsfromanonlinesurveyintheoutpatientsettingofaneurovascularnetwork