Rowe, Fiona J 
ORCID: 0000-0001-9210-9131, Dent, Joseph, Allen, Frank, Hepworth, Lauren R ORCID: 0000-0001-8542-9815 and Bates, Rachel
(2020)
Development of V-FAST: a vision screening tool for ambulance staff.
Journal of Paramedic Practice, 12 (8).
pp. 324-331.
ISSN 1759-1376, 2041-9457
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Abstract
<jats:sec><jats:title>Background:</jats:title><jats:p> About two-thirds of stroke survivors experience visual problems and most patients who have a stroke limited to the occipital lobe will have visual impairments only. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Aim:</jats:title><jats:p> The V-FAST screening tool, which assesses visual symptoms, eye movements, visual field and visual extinction, and a training package to improve diagnostic accuracy of identifying visual impairment in hyperacute strokes were developed and evaluated. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods:</jats:title><jats:p> The educational package was developed through focus groups. The pilot study screened patients with suspected strokes in prehospital settings; the V-FAST tool was used with 43 of these patients. Each participant was also assessed in hospital using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the score compared to V-FAST screening results to determine sensitivity and specificity. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results:</jats:title><jats:p> The education package includes detailed instructions with video. In the pilot study, V-FAST detected visual impairment in 75.9% of FAST-positive and 80% of FAST-negative strokes. Sensitivity and specificity compared to NIHSS were 85.7% and 42.1% respectively. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion:</jats:title><jats:p> V-FAST has good sensitivity to detect vision impairment when screening for possible strokes. The added education package facilitates greater knowledge and understanding of potential visual problems caused by stroke. </jats:p></jats:sec>
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, 42 Health Sciences, 3212 Ophthalmology and Optometry, Neurosciences, Eye Disease and Disorders of Vision, Clinical Research, Cerebrovascular, Brain Disorders, Stroke, 4.2 Evaluation of markers and technologies, Eye, Stroke |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Mar 2024 16:52 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Aug 2025 02:22 |
| DOI: | 10.12968/jpar.2020.12.8.324 |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3179550 |
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