Graduating US neurology residents' experience with tissue-type plasminogen activator for acute stroke: a 10-year comparison.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE A survey of graduating neurology residents conducted in 2000 showed that many residents had limited experience and comfort treating with tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA). We examined changes in residents' experience during the past decade. METHODS A 12-item survey was sent to US neurology residents in their final year of training. Items examined residents' experience and confidence with assessment of the acute stroke patient and use of tPA for treatment. Questions were worded identically in the 2000 and 2010 surveys, and responses were compared between the two. RESULTS Of 491 residents, 286 (58%) responded. There was a significant increase from 2000 to 2010 in the percentage of residents who felt comfortable independently treating with tPA (73% versus 94%, P<0.001), who had observed administration of tPA (88% versus 99%, P<0.001), who had personally treated with tPA (80% versus 95%, P<0.001), and who had been involved in post-tPA care (89% versus 98%, P<0.001). There was a substantial increase in residents with formal training in using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (65% versus 92%, P<0.001) and who had dedicated stroke teams at their institution (84% versus 93%, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS Neurology residents' experience and comfort treating acute ischemic stroke with tPA increased significantly between 2000 and 2010, as did resident exposure to stroke teams and formal training in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale.