national-clinical-guidelines-for-stroke-fourth-edition

1.3.1.3 Chapter 3 – structure and general principles of stroke care
This chapter covers organisation of services, resources needed, and general principles
which apply across the whole patient pathway, for example on transfers of care and on
management of individual patients.
1.3.1.4 Chapter 4 – acute phase stroke management
This chapter covers diagnosis and interventions in the acute stages of stroke or TIA over
the first 48 hours and in some instances up to 2 weeks. It is largely concerned with
process as applied to individual patients and their families. The need to start managing
activity limitation (ie rehabilitation) is acknowledged but details are given later. It also
covers prevention of some specific complications.
1.3.1.5 Chapter 5 – secondary prevention
Primary prevention is not within the scope of this guideline, however, guidance on
preventing recurrent strokes is included.
1.3.1.6 Chapter 6 – recovery phase stroke management
The next chapter is the largest, and it focuses on the recovery (ie rehabilitation) phase
which may be as short as a few days or span many months. It largely concerns the process
of care as applied to individual patients and their families, and it focuses on impairments,
activity limitations and contexts.
1.3.1.7 Chapter 7 – long-term phase of stroke management
The last chapter focuses on the longer-term management of patients after stroke, but
only in relation to the stroke-specific issues. It is concerned with the process of care as
applied to patients and their families, focusing on social participation and social context,
with additional consideration of returning to rehabilitation. The management of
comorbidities and underlying causes is not covered.
1.3.2 Structure of each subject
Each subject has a similar general structure:
1 Introduction
> Introduction, defining the domain and giving a very brief background on its
relevance
> Evidence to recommendations, outlining in more detail why a particular
recommendation has or has not been made. This section may include some references or
evidence that the working party thought important but not sufficiently strong to justify
developing a recommendation from it. This may not be appropriate for all sections
> Recommendations, given as a structured set (see below)
> Source, giving a few major references for each identified recommendation or stating
that the recommendation was arrived at by consensus
> Implications, discussing any broader implications including cost and what local
teams need to do. Every recommendation is likely to have some implication, but a
© Royal College of Physicians 2012 3