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CompletedNCT00283868STRokE DOCUpdated Jun 3, 2015Results posted

Stroke Team Remote Evaluation Using a Digital Observation Camera

An observational study in Stroke, sponsored by University of California, San Diego. Completed at 4 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2015-06-03.

Sponsored by University of California, San Diego · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
234
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this trial is to determine if an experimental remote video camera system is an effective way for a stroke specialist to evaluate stroke patients from a distant site.

Read the detailed description

The Stroke Team Remote Evaluation Using a Digital Observation Camera (STRokE DOC) system is a digital video camera system that can transfer video and audio images from the clinic or emergency room to a distant (remote) place where a stroke specialist can review the images in real time (as they happen). This system uses site independent software to access the camera system from multiple locations. The study will determine if video consultation is superior to telephone consultation for remote evaluation or treatment of stroke patients, and the usefulness of this system in evaluating patients with suspected stroke symptoms. However, this method is being used in other fields of medicine for assistance in medical evaluations.

Participants will be randomly assigned to receive evaluation by either the video camera system or by telephone alone. For those assigned to the video camera system, the system will be activated and will record and transmit video and audio images to a stroke specialist located at a remote location. He/she may ask the participants questions relating to medical illnesses and current symptoms, and may also review laboratory tests and x-ray images using a computer, if available. The stroke specialist will also perform general physical and neurological examinations, which will take place by video camera with the assistance of a bedside physician who will perform the actual examinations.

For those participants assigned to the telephone-only consultation, the video system will not be activated, but the same procedure as above will be followed except the stroke specialist will not be able to see the participants or examine them using the video camera system. Participation in the study will last for the entire time the participants are in the hospital. Participants will be contacted by telephone by a study nurse 3 months post-stroke for a 10-minute interview regarding their current health. The total duration for individual participation is 3 months.

The study is part of the Specialized Program of Translational Research in Acute Stroke (SPOTRIAS), which allows researchers to enhance and initiate translational research that ultimately will benefit stroke patients.

02

Conditions studied

  • Stroke

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Keywords

  • stroke
  • digital video
  • SPOTRIAS
03

In context

Stroke

7,286 studies on the registry are indexed under Stroke; 2,007 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 234 is above the median of 160 across 1,692 observational studies indexed under Stroke.

Browse Stroke studies →

Lead sponsor

University of California, San Diego is the lead sponsor of 958 studies on the registry; 191 are open to participants now.

Of its 110 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 70 (64%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Probability sample

Study population

Acute Stroke Patients

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years of age or older
  • Symptoms consistent with acute stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic)
  • Acute presentation of stroke symptoms, per bedside physician discretion (onset generally less than 12 hours and likely less than 3 hours)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unlikely to complete study through 90-day follow-up
05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
234 participants (actual)

Groups and cohorts

  • Telemedicine

    Patients randomized to this group were evaluated using the digital observation camera and DICOM evaluations for telemedicine

  • Telephone

    Patients randomized to this group were evaluated using telephone only and no use of the digital observation camera or DICOM

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Appropriateness of Decision to Treat or Not Treat With Thrombolytics

    This primary measure assesses the appropriateness of decision to treat or not treat with thrombolytics for patients presenting potentially within 3 hours of symptom onset. Appropriateness was assessed using a centralized adjudicating committee, 3 levels of data availability, and an independent medical monitor assessment. The case was presented to the adjudicating committee (blinded to randomization arm) and the committee reviewed patient records (also blinded to randomization arm) to assess whether decision was "appropriate" to give or not give rt-PA.

    Time frame: potentially within 3 hours of symptom onset

Secondary outcomes

  1. Percentage of Participants With Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH)

    Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH) rate at 36 hours. This was assessed by determining whether there was an intracerebral hemmorhage via telephone contact to the hospital where the patient was located. Any follow up imaging (head CT or MRI) was reported to the investigator team for presence of hemorrhage.

    Time frame: 36 hours

  2. Percentage of Total Thrombolytic Administrations

    This measure assesses the number of total thrombolytic administrations that were given. This was to measure whether there were more participants treated with thrombolytics in one arm of the trial or the other.

    Time frame: potentially within 3 hours of symptom onset

  3. Time to Treatment Decision for Administration of Thrombolytics

    time to decision (consult onset to decision). This measure was meant to assess how long it took to do the evaluation.

    Time frame: potentially within 3 hours of symptom onset

  4. Percentage of Evaluations With Technical Observations

    Technical Observations: This measure was designed to assess the percentage of evaluations where there were technical observations (difficulties with using the technology) noted by the consultant who performed the evaluation (either telemedicine evaluation or telephone evaluation) in each arm of the trial.

    Time frame: Time of consultation

07

Results

Posted Nov 19, 2009

Participant flow

Recruitment completed in 4/07

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneTelemedicineTelephone
Started111111
Completed104103
Not completed78
Withdrew: Lost to follow-up78

Outcome measures

PrimaryAppropriateness of Decision to Treat or Not Treat With Thrombolytics

This primary measure assesses the appropriateness of decision to treat or not treat with thrombolytics for patients presenting potentially within 3 hours of symptom onset. Appropriateness was assessed using a centralized adjudicating committee, 3 levels of data availability, and an independent medical monitor assessment. The case was presented to the adjudicating committee (blinded to randomization arm) and the committee reviewed patient records (also blinded to randomization arm) to assess whether decision was "appropriate" to give or not give rt-PA.

Time frame:
potentially within 3 hours of symptom onset
Reported as:
Number · percentage of participants
Appropriateness of Decision to Treat or Not Treat With Thrombolytics
percentage of participantsTelemedicineTelephone
Appropriateness of Decision to Treat or Not Treat With Thrombolytics9882
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH)

Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH) rate at 36 hours. This was assessed by determining whether there was an intracerebral hemmorhage via telephone contact to the hospital where the patient was located. Any follow up imaging (head CT or MRI) was reported to the investigator team for presence of hemorrhage.

Time frame:
36 hours
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants With Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH)
Percentage of participantsTelemedicineTelephone
Percentage of Participants With Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH)78
SecondaryPercentage of Total Thrombolytic Administrations

This measure assesses the number of total thrombolytic administrations that were given. This was to measure whether there were more participants treated with thrombolytics in one arm of the trial or the other.

Time frame:
potentially within 3 hours of symptom onset
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Total Thrombolytic Administrations
Percentage of participantsTelemedicineTelephone
Percentage of Total Thrombolytic Administrations2823
SecondaryTime to Treatment Decision for Administration of Thrombolytics

time to decision (consult onset to decision). This measure was meant to assess how long it took to do the evaluation.

Time frame:
potentially within 3 hours of symptom onset
Reported as:
Mean · Minutes
Time to Treatment Decision for Administration of Thrombolytics
MinutesTelemedicineTelephone
Time to Treatment Decision for Administration of Thrombolytics32 ± 1723 ± 24
SecondaryPercentage of Evaluations With Technical Observations

Technical Observations: This measure was designed to assess the percentage of evaluations where there were technical observations (difficulties with using the technology) noted by the consultant who performed the evaluation (either telemedicine evaluation or telephone evaluation) in each arm of the trial.

Time frame:
Time of consultation
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of Evaluations
Percentage of Evaluations With Technical Observations
Percentage of EvaluationsTelemedicineTelephone
Percentage of Evaluations With Technical Observations012

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)TelemedicineTelephoneTotal
<=18 years000.0
Between 18 and 65 years383674.0
>=65 years7375148.0
Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)TelemedicineTelephoneTotal
Mean70.4 ± 14.569 ± 14.969.7 ± 14.7
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)TelemedicineTelephoneTotal
Female5757114.0
Male5454108.0
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)TelemedicineTelephoneTotal
United States111111222.0
08

Study locations

4 sites
  • Pioneers Memorial Hospital
    Brawley, California, United States
  • El Centro Regional Medical Center
    El Centro, California, United States
  • University of California San Diego
    San Diego, California, United States
  • Twin Cities Community Hospital
    San Luis Obispo, California, United States
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Meyer BC, Lyden PD, Al-Khoury L, Cheng Y, Raman R, Fellman R, Beer J, Rao R, Zivin JA. Prospective reliability of the STRokE DOC wireless/site independent telemedicine system. Neurology. 2005 Mar 22;64(6):1058-60. doi: 10.1212/01.WNL.0000154601.26653.E7. PubMed 15781827 ↗
  • Crome O, Bahr M. Editorial comment--Remote evaluation of acute ischemic stroke: a reliable tool to extend tissue plasminogen activator use to community and rural stroke patients? Stroke. 2003 Oct;34(10):e191-2. doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000095163.28915.B9. Epub 2003 Sep 18. No abstract available. PubMed 14500919 ↗
  • Patterson V. Teleneurology. J Telemed Telecare. 2005;11(2):55-9. doi: 10.1258/1357633053499840. PubMed 15829048 ↗
  • LaMonte MP, Bahouth MN, Hu P, Pathan MY, Yarbrough KL, Gunawardane R, Crarey P, Page W. Telemedicine for acute stroke: triumphs and pitfalls. Stroke. 2003 Mar;34(3):725-8. doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000056945.36583.37. Epub 2003 Jan 30. PubMed 12624298 ↗
  • Schwamm LH, Rosenthal ES, Hirshberg A, Schaefer PW, Little EA, Kvedar JC, Petkovska I, Koroshetz WJ, Levine SR. Virtual TeleStroke support for the emergency department evaluation of acute stroke. Acad Emerg Med. 2004 Nov;11(11):1193-7. doi: 10.1197/j.aem.2004.08.014. PubMed 15528584 ↗
  • Audebert HJ, Kukla C, Clarmann von Claranau S, Kuhn J, Vatankhah B, Schenkel J, Ickenstein GW, Haberl RL, Horn M; TEMPiS Group. Telemedicine for safe and extended use of thrombolysis in stroke: the Telemedic Pilot Project for Integrative Stroke Care (TEMPiS) in Bavaria. Stroke. 2005 Feb;36(2):287-91. doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000153015.57892.66. Epub 2004 Dec 29. PubMed 15625294 ↗
  • Wiborg A, Widder B; Telemedicine in Stroke in Swabia Project. Teleneurology to improve stroke care in rural areas: The Telemedicine in Stroke in Swabia (TESS) Project. Stroke. 2003 Dec;34(12):2951-6. doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000099125.30731.97. Epub 2003 Nov 20. PubMed 14631092 ↗
  • Wang S, Gross H, Lee SB, Pardue C, Waller J, Nichols FT 3rd, Adams RJ, Hess DC. Remote evaluation of acute ischemic stroke in rural community hospitals in Georgia. Stroke. 2004 Jul;35(7):1763-8. doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000131858.63829.6e. Epub 2004 May 27. PubMed 15166386 ↗
  • Demaerschalk BM, Raman R, Ernstrom K, Meyer BC. Efficacy of telemedicine for stroke: pooled analysis of the Stroke Team Remote Evaluation Using a Digital Observation Camera (STRokE DOC) and STRokE DOC Arizona telestroke trials. Telemed J E Health. 2012 Apr;18(3):230-7. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2011.0116. Epub 2012 Mar 8. PubMed 22400970 ↗
  • Meyer BC, Raman R, Hemmen T, Obler R, Zivin JA, Rao R, Thomas RG, Lyden PD. Efficacy of site-independent telemedicine in the STRokE DOC trial: a randomised, blinded, prospective study. Lancet Neurol. 2008 Sep;7(9):787-95. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(08)70171-6. PubMed 18676180 ↗
  • Meyer BC, Raman R, Chacon MR, Jensen M, Werner JD. Reliability of site-independent telemedicine when assessed by telemedicine-naive stroke practitioners. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2008 Jul-Aug;17(4):181-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2008.01.008. PubMed 18589337 ↗
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 3, 2015, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00283868
Lead sponsor
University of California, San Diego
Collaborators
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
First posted
Jan 30, 2006
Start date
Jan 2004
Primary completion
Aug 2007
Completion
Aug 2007
Results posted
Nov 19, 2009
Last update
Jun 3, 2015

Study contacts

Brett Meyer, MD
principal investigator · UCSD Stroke Center

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2009. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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