Highlights On Information, Secondary Stroke Prevention and Holistic Management of Post-Transient Ischemic Attack Population: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Epidemiological evidence suggests that there are residual problems post-Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), specifically in most domains of life, which led to lower quality of life (QoL). TIA patients’
needs were summarized in past literature, encompassing three aspects: 1) information; 2) stroke prevention; and 3) holistic management (residual impairments and patients' live situations). However, the details of these needs remain limited. Therefore, this scoping review was carried out to identify the extent of existing practices or treatments to address the TIA patients’ needs. The insights of this scoping review are expected to be used to inform the development of a multi-component post-TIA care module for TIA patients. Method: This review utilizes the 5-step framework by Arksey & Malley (2005), and the databases searched cover established databases using keywords related to TIA and care. Result: Sixteen relevant articles were identified from 11,501 articles published between 2014 and 2022. Three studies were found to contain education and information sharing that addressed the needs for information; all sixteen studies focused on stroke secondary prevention programs involving medical adherence, education for lifestyle changes, exercises, and counseling; and only one study reported the impacts of the treatment on post-TIA fatigue. Our review found no study that looked into the context of the impacts of post-
TIA care on patients’ lives. Conclusion: Our findings show that available studies were focusing mainly on stroke secondary prevention, leaving a gap in the need for holistic care covering TIA patients’s residual impairments and the impacts on their lives. Future studies specifically targeting a holistic care approach are warranted.