Best Care for Acute Stroke in General Wards
Official title: Effectiveness of Implementing Best Care Practices in the Management of Patients With Acute Stroke in Conventional Hospitalization: A Cluster-Randomized, Open, Stepped-Wedge Controlled Trial.
Run by University of Malaga · NCT07627399 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nurse-led program called BEST CARE ICTUS_HC is tested in hospitals without Stroke Units to see if it reduces stroke complications and helps recovery after an acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 700 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Malaga Academic / other |
| Locations | 4 sites (Antequera, Málaga and 3 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 12, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 2028 |
| Study ends | December 2028 |
| Registry record updated | June 4, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07627399 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults 18+ with acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke admitted to regional hospitals without Stroke Units.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients not expected to benefit include those with non-stroke diagnoses, those requiring transfer to specialized centers, or those with severe deterioration preventing swallowing testing.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study tests a multicomponent nursing intervention designed for non-specialized hospitals. It uses a five-pillar bundle to improve swallowing screening, prevent pneumonia, and address attention problems after stroke. The program is compared to usual care in adults 18 and older admitted with acute stroke to regional hospitals. The RE-AIM framework guides evaluation of reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of the intervention. The trial focuses on patient safety and longer-term functional outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience fewer complications, better early swallowing assessments, and improved recovery at 6 months.
How similar studies have gone: Previous nurse-led protocols in stroke care suggest potential improvements, though implementation in non-specialized settings is less established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged 18 years or older. * Clinical diagnosis of acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. * Admission to conventional hospitalization units (Internal Medicine) in regional hospitals without specialized Stroke Units. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients admitted for a cause other than stroke who develop a stroke during their hospital stay (in-hospital stroke). * Patients subjected to invasive neurological procedures. * Patients undergoing invasive procedures, such as thrombectomy, who require transfer to a referral hospital and remain there for more than 48 hours. * Patients with deterioration of the level of consciousness that prevents the performance of dysphagia testing. * Patients that have been taken care of by Nurses and Nursing Assistants with \>4 weeks of work experience in Stroke Units in the last 12 months
Where it's running
-
Hospital Comarcal de la Axarquia
Málaga, Velez-Maálaga, Spain Recruiting -
Hospital de Antequera
Antequera, Málaga, Spain Not yet recruiting -
Hospital Universitario Costa del Sol
Marbella, Málaga, Spain Not yet recruiting -
Hospital de la Serranía de Ronda
Ronda, Málaga, Spain Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: JOSE MIGUEL MORALES-ASENCIO, PhD — Universidad de Málaga
- Study coordinator: JOSE MIGUEL MORALES-ASENCIO, PhD
- Email: jmmasen@uma.es
- Phone: +34951952833
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.