Healthcare professionals' competence in stroke care pathways: A mixed-methods systematic review

Background The challenges of caring for stroke patients are growing due to population ageing and improved survival rates. Healthcare professionals' competence development in stroke care is a necessity to ensure high-quality patient care. Objectives To identify and describe the competence areas of healthcare professionals working in the stroke patient care pathway and factors influencing these competences. Design A mixed-methods systematic review. Methods The review was conducted according to the JBI guidelines and registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42020204062). PRISMA checklist guided the review process. Relevant original studies were identified by searching four databases-CINAHL (EBSCO), PubMed, Scopus and Medic. After researcher consensus was reached, 32 studies were selected for inclusion and subjected to content analysis and data tabulation. Results Competence in care processes, clinical competence, competence in using self-management strategies, interaction skills, skills in acknowledging family and competence in integrating the available evidence base into patient care were identified as key competence areas. Organisation of services, specialisation in stroke care, continuous development and education, family and carer and training in oral care and cognitive rehabilitation were identified as factors that influence healthcare professionals' competence. Conclusions Diverse clinical and interaction competencies are needed throughout the stroke care pathway, and various factors affect healthcare professionals' competence. Further research on healthcare professionals' stroke care competence will be needed to respond to changing healthcare demand. Relevance to clinical practice We recommend organisational support and formulation of stroke care patient guidelines in line with healthcare competence requirements. Focus should be added for nursing professions in developing interactive communication competence since nurses spend the majority of the time providing individual patient care. Also, organisations should integrate continuing training in specialised stroke care for healthcare professionals' competence development.