Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40405122›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2025

A scoping review of the utilization of mobile stroke units in low and lower middle-income countries: current evidence, implications and future direction.

Priscilla Abrafi Opare-Addo, Elliot Koranteng Tannor, Emily Brennan, Minas Aikins, Serwaa Asare Bediako, Teri Lynn Herbert, Kojo Awotwi Hutton-Mensah, Emmanuel Ofori, Kwadwo Faka Gyan, Solomon Gyabaah and 2 more

Abstract readScoping Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Priscilla Abrafi Opare-AddoDirectorate of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 1934, Bantama, Kumasi, Ghana. priscillaadjei23@gmail.com.
Elliot Koranteng TannorDirectorate of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 1934, Bantama, Kumasi, Ghana.
Emily BrennanMedical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
Minas AikinsDirectorate of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 1934, Bantama, Kumasi, Ghana.
Serwaa Asare BediakoDirectorate of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 1934, Bantama, Kumasi, Ghana.
Teri Lynn HerbertMedical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
Kojo Awotwi Hutton-MensahDirectorate of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 1934, Bantama, Kumasi, Ghana.
Emmanuel OforiDepartment of Family Medicine, Dalhousie University, Yarmouth, NS, Canada.
Kwadwo Faka GyanDirectorate of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 1934, Bantama, Kumasi, Ghana.
Solomon GyabaahDirectorate of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 1934, Bantama, Kumasi, Ghana.
Emmanuel Acheamfour-AkowuahDirectorate of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 1934, Bantama, Kumasi, Ghana.
Fred Stephen SarfoDirectorate of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 1934, Bantama, Kumasi, Ghana.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLow and Lower-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) have the highest stroke incidence, prevalence, and case fatality rates globally. Current evidence suggests Mobile Stroke Units (MSUs) outperform traditional Emergency Medicine Services (EMS) in time metrics, cost-effectiveness, and long-term outcomes. MSUs could potentially improve stroke outcomes in resource-constrained settings by addressing critical challenges related to prehospital delays, health-seeking behavior, and access to expertise. PURPOSE: This scoping review aims to assess the existing literature and knowledge gaps on the utilization of mobile stroke units in LMICS, their impact on stroke outcomes, and cost-effectiveness. MATERIALS AND

methodsWe conducted a detailed search of PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, African Index Medicus, and Publicly Available Content Database (ProQuest) inception to April 15, 2024. Google Scholar and TRIP Pro were also searched to identify Grey literature. African Journals Online, references were also hand-searched.

resultsSeven hundred and eighty-five studies were screened; only two met the eligibility criteria. Cherian et al. report the first use of a mobile stroke unit (MSU) in India, detailing its operations during the first year and the challenges encountered. According to the authors, fewer patients utilize MSUs in India compared to other parts of the world due to challenges such as a lack of awareness and affordability. Osuegbu et al. also report the absence of both fixed and mobile stroke units in Rivers State, Nigeria.

conclusionThere is currently very limited data to support the contextual suitability of MSU or implementation strategies to guide its integration into stroke care systems in LMICs. Further research is needed to examine the utilization, barriers, impact, and cost-effectiveness of Mobile Stroke Units (MSUs) in low- and middle-income countries. This could inform stakeholders and policymakers about the potential role and value of MSUs within stroke care systems in these settings.

Indexed as

Developing CountriesEmergency Medical ServicesMobile Health UnitsStrokeCost-Benefit AnalysisHumansLMICsMobile health unitsPrehospital careThrombolysis

Identifiers

PMID40405122
PMCPMC12096547

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.