ArticleBMJ open2025
10 years on from the landmark stroke thrombectomy trials, where are we now? A qualitative study examining professional views on the implementation of endovascular treatment for ischaemic stroke in England.
Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo explore multiprofessional views about system-wide factors influencing (impeding or facilitating) the delivery of stroke mechanical thrombectomy (MT) services and/or improvements to this pathway in England.
designA pragmatic exploratory qualitative study using online focus groups and semi-structured interviews with National Health Service (NHS) professionals and those working in a stroke strategic/policy lead role. We thematically analysed the data using the Framework Approach to understand participants' views on the challenges to improving current and future MT implementation.
settingNHS trusts and other key stroke strategic/policy organisations covering 10 geographical regions in England and a national perspective.
participantsA total of 29 professionals, working in an NHS clinical and managerial position and/or a stroke strategic national/regional clinical/policy lead role, participated in five focus groups and six individual semi-structured interviews between April and June 2024.
resultsWe identified five themes relating to MT implementation progress and challenges (1) workforce, (2) clinical care pathways, (3) service/system, (4) cross-cutting theme: communications and (5) cross-cutting theme: culture. Our analysis emphasised the increasing complexity and inter-related factors shaping the emergency stroke pathway for MT provision and a need to acknowledge key people-related, organisational and sociocultural factors during service planning.
conclusionsDespite the challenges and complexity, professionals were optimistic that further progress would be made with MT delivery in England. However, ongoing improvement strategies are required, which also acknowledge wider cultural factors and system-wide relationships and are not just focused on care pathways and resources.
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