AHORA - Spanish Stroke Scale w/ Dr. Banerjee
- foamfrat
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Stroke assessment tools like BEFAST are crucial for swiftly identifying symptoms and expediting treatment. However, language barriers can hinder prompt care for non-English speakers, particularly in the Hispanic community. Developed through a collaborative effort, AHORA adapts the traditional stroke assessment to be culturally and linguistically appropriate for the Spanish-speaking population.
Designing Ahora
The need for a specific tool became apparent when traditional tools like BEFAST were found to be ineffective for those who did not speak English. After discarding the complex "Rapido," Banerjee’s team, including Marcia Wilson, MD, and Remley Crowe, PhD, crafted Ahora. This tool was made to mirror BEFAST but is simplified for practical use within the Spanish-speaking population.
Components of Ahora
AHORA includes several key components to assess potential stroke symptoms:
Andar (A): Assesses balance and walking difficulties. The question posed is, "¿Tiene problemas para caminar o con el equilibrio?" (Do you have trouble walking or with balance?).
Hablar (H): Evaluates speech and understanding issues. The question is, "¿Tiene dificultad para hablar o entender?" (Do you have difficulty speaking or understanding?).
Ojos (O): Checks for vision changes, including double vision. The prompt is, "¿Tiene cambios en la visión o visión doble?" (Do you have changes in vision or double vision?).
Rostro (R): Looks for facial drooping and severe headaches, asking, "¿Tiene la mitad de la cara caída o un dolor de cabeza intenso y repentino?" (Is half of your face drooping or do you have a sudden, intense headache?).
Ambos Brazos o Piernas (A): Tests arm weakness, inquiring if the patient can raise both arms or if one arm is weaker.
Impact and Outreach
By making Ahora accessible, EMS teams can swiftly identify stroke symptoms in Spanish speakers and act quickly. The tool’s adoption across local hospitals and inclusion in community outreach programs has significantly improved stroke response for Spanish speakers. Ahora marks the beginning of developing similar tools for other non-English-speaking communities, aiming to transform emergency medical response worldwide. Our ultimate goal is to ensure timely and effective care for all, regardless of language or background.
Stroke care is evolving, and innovations like Ahora are bringing us closer to an inclusive and effective healthcare system for everyone. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to track Ahora’s impact and expand our efforts to break down language barriers in medical emergencies.
References:
Banerjee, P., Koumans, H., Weech, M. D., Wilson, M., Rivera-Morales, M., & Ganti, L. (2022). AHORA: a Spanish language tool to identify acute stroke symptoms. Stroke and vascular neurology, 7(2), 176–178. https://doi.org/10.1136/svn-2021-001280
Stead, T., Ganti, L., McCauley, E., Koumans, H., Wilson, M., Weech, M. D., Barbera, A. R., & Banerjee, P. R. (2021). What Do Spanish Speakers Think of the Andar, Hablar, Ojos, Rostro, Ambos Brazos o Piernas (AHORA) Stroke Tool?. Cureus, 13(12), e20720. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.20720
