Background
Specialist training provides skilled workforce for service delivery. Stroke medicine has evolved rapidly in the past years. No prior information exists on background or training of stroke doctors globally.
Aims
To describe the specialties that represent stroke doctors, their training requirements, and the scientific organisations ensuring continuous medical education.
Methods
The World Stroke Organization conducted an expert survey between June and November 2014 using e-mailed questionnaires. All Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries with >1 million population and other countries with >50 million population were included (n=49, total 5.6 billion inhabitants, 85% of global strokes). Two stroke experts from each selected country were surveyed, discrepancies resolved, and further information on identified stroke specific curricula sought.
Results
We received responses from 48 (98%) countries. Of ischaemic stroke patients, 64% were reportedly treated by neurologists, ranging from 5% in Ireland to 95% in the Netherlands. Per thousand annual strokes there were average 6 neurologists, ranging from 0.3 in Ethiopia to 33 in Israel. Of intracerebral haemorrhage patients, 29% were reportedly treated by neurosurgeons, ranging from 5% in Sweden to 79% in Japan, with 3 neurosurgeons per thousand strokes, ranging from 0.1 in Ethiopia to 24 in South Korea. Most countries had a stroke society (86%) while only 10 (21%) had a degree or subspecialty for stroke medicine.
Conclusions
Stroke doctor numbers, background specialties, and opportunities to specialise in stroke vary across the globe. Most countries have a scientific society to pursue advancement of stroke medicine but few have stroke curricula.