Factors Associated with Delayed Access to Treatment for Stroke Patients in Singhanakhon Hospital

Abstract

This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to determine factors affecting delayed access to treatment for patients with stroke, Singhanakhon hospital. Sample were 154, recruited using stratified sampling method. Research instruments consisted of demographic factor questionnaire, access to hospital questionnaire and warning sign questionnaire which had IOC ranging from .67-1.00 and Cronbach alpha coefficient reliability of .909, .803 and .903 respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic multiple regression analysis.

            Research results revealed that there were no factors affecting delayed access to treatment for patients with stroke, Singhanakhon hospital. However, when considering by percentage, it was found that patients using service in office hours having more percentage of delayed access than those who had service in after office hours by emergency medical system. The reasons were that in office hours, relatives needed to work out of home and there was no time taking patients to hospital, thereby using private car in after office hours.

            Most emergency people as well as relatives or paramedic team brought patients from scenes to hospital without using emergency medical system in pre-hospital. Patients went to hospital by themselves due to understanding of hotline 1669 only for accidents. Most emergency patients going to hospital were accompanied by relatives which caused inconvenience of service of emergency medical system. From this situation, Thai emergency patients had mortality risk and complications because transferring patients to hospital by themselves in pre-hospital period resulted in lack of suggestion for practice, assistance, transfer and treatment in emergency stage.