Documentation of stroke onset time - Challenges and recommendations

Proper evaluation of progress to reduce delays in accessing medical care after the onset of stroke symptoms requires high-quality data on symptom-onset time. However, documentation of onset time is often missing or recorded inconsistently in medical records. This study provides recommendations for improving the completeness and standardization of recording symptom-onset time for stroke patients. A more accurate picture of the chain of recovery from stroke starts with improved assessment of symptom-onset time in population-based studies. Future public and professional education programs to reduce delays in access to stroke care will benefit greatly from these efforts. © 2006 American Journal of Preventive Medicine.