Understanding Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA): an ethnographic study of TIA consultations

Background Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a transient episode of neurological dysfunction. Rapid access TIA clinics have been set up as integrated 'one-stop' clinics which aim to investigate, diagnose, educate and implement treatment to reduce the risk of further TIA/stroke.

Objective This study aimed to examine how TIA consultations were conducted by observing the consultations and then interviewing patients.

Results There was considerable variation in the conduct of these consultations across sites and clinicians. This resulted in variation in patient experience and knowledge after the consultation including the ability to recognise TIA-associated risk factors and their management. As TIA symptoms resolve, patients may reduce their need to seek healthcare services in addition to demonstrating reduced concordance with secondary stroke prevention. Health professionals recognise that this single appointment provides patients with a large amount of information which may be difficult to process. Importantly, there was little discussion about future symptoms and how to respond. A management plan which considered a patient's health belief, knowledge and encouraged involvement of family members, improved information recall.

Conclusion TIA is a complex medical diagnosis with multiple risk factors which may make the management complex and hence difficult for patients to undertake. Our findings found variability in the conduct, provision of information and patient understanding. Guidance on nationally agreed consultation framework may prove useful. Improved patient education may include individualised/sustained education utilising multidisciplinary team members across family/primary and secondary care, video or greater online education and improved general public education.