Characteristics of included studies
| Reference | Country | Method | Sample size | Period of data collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanders et al54 | Victoria, Australia | Prospective before and after study | Before intervention: 169 patients After intervention: 301 confirmed TIA cases | Before: 12 months (2003–2004) After: 36 months (2004–2007) |
| Montassier et al53 | Nantes, France | Prospective cohort study | 118 patients | 12 months January to December 2009 |
| Griffiths et al55 | New South Wales, Australia | Prospective cohort study | 200 patients | 22 months October 2008 to July 2010 |
| Lavallee et al52 | Paris, France | Prospective cohort study | 1085 patients | 24 months January 2003 to December 2005 |
| Rothwell et al6 | Oxfordshire, England | Prospective before and after study nested within a population-based incidence study of all TIA and stroke (OXVASC study) | 644 patients presented with TIA or stroke 281 referred for outpatient assessment using EXPRESS treatment protocol | 30 months 1 October 2004 to 31 March 2007 |
| Kerr et al51 | Lothian, Scotland | Audit of telephone hotline and referral within prospective before and after study of reconfigured stroke service | 376 calls to hotline | 3 months |
| Jeerakathil et al56 | Alberta, Canada | Algorithm and hotline pathway developed through consensus process. Reported in protocol for before and after study | Study protocol | 15-month implementation period |
| Ranta et al57 Ranta et al58 | New Zealand | Cluster randomised controlled trial | Study protocol57 Results58 56 general practices (29 intervention) 172 intervention group patients 119 intervention group patients | 13.5 months 24 February 2012 to 15 May 2013 |
TIA, transient ischaemic attack.