From Call to Diagnosis

Introduction. This study aimed to assess currentstroke triage practices in the Medical Dispatch Unit(MPDJ) using the Croatian Emergency Call ReceptionIndex, in order to identify areas for improvement indispatcher training and caller awareness.Methods. A retrospective analysis was conductedusing data from the e-Hitna system of the ZagrebCounty Emergency Medical Institute for the year2023. Triage categories “Headache” (A.18) and “Alteredconsciousness/paralysis” (A.25) were analyzedin relation to confirmed stroke diagnoses based onICD-10 codes (G45–G45.9, I60–I69.9). Statistical analysisincluded chi-square and Welch’s t-test.Results. A statistically significant association wasfound between the triage category “Altered consciousness/paralysis” and confirmed stroke diagnosis(χ² = 11.82; p < 0.001). Many stroke patients wereinitially categorized under non-specific symptoms.No significant sex difference was observed in triageallocation (p = 0.9508), while women were significantlyolder than men (p < 0.001).Conclusion. Findings highlight the need for enhanceddispatcher education and public awarenesson stroke symptoms. Improvements in stroke recognitionprotocols and follow-up with clinical outcomesare recommended to ensure more accurate and timelyprehospital triage.