Brief opportunistic stroke education in Primary Care and its potential role in reducing prehospital delay: A case report
Introduction: Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The success of treatment depends largely on early recognition of symptoms and rapid access to medical care. Primary care physicians play a critical role in managing risk factors and increasing patients’ stroke literacy and awareness of symptoms.
Case Presentation: An 86-year-old male patient with a history of coronary artery disease and hypertension presented to the family health center for a routine prescription renewal. Considering vascular risk factors and the patient’s recent clinical history, the patient and his wife were given a brief, approximately 3-minute opportunistic education session including the FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) criteria. Five months after this visit, the patient experienced sudden changes in consciousness, loss of speech, and left hemiplegia. The patient’s wife, recalling the education, quickly recognized the symptoms and called an ambulance, ensuring the patient reached the stroke center within 20 minutes. The patient was diagnosed with right middle cerebral artery occlusion, received timely intravenous thrombolytic therapy, and was discharged without complications. During the follow-up conducted by the family physician after discharge, non-compliance with statin therapy was addressed, and depressive symptoms in the caregiver were managed with a holistic approach .
Discussion: This case demonstrates that brief, targeted verbal education provided during routine primary care visits can prevent delays in reaching the hospital and can contribute to survival. Short reminders developed for patients and their families in our country can improve symptom recall and increase stroke awareness. Family medicine offers a holistic and integrated care model that goes beyond risk screening in stroke management, encompassing early diagnosis, medication adherence, rehabilitation coordination, and caregiver health.
Conclusion: Integrating brief opportunistic stroke education into routine family medicine visits can help reduce delays in reaching the hospital during a stroke and ensure timely access to life-saving treatments.
Keywords: Stroke, Primary Healthcare Services, health education, medication adherence, caregivers
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