Cerebri: a web-app to reduce door-to-treatment decision time and improve guideline adherence in acute ischaemic stroke
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Background
Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) hold promise for improving adherence to guidelines and reducing decision-making time in acute ischemic stroke management. We developed a stroke-specific CDSS smartphone app termed Cerebri, and assessed its efficacy, in reducing imaging-to-decision time (IDT) and enhancing guideline adherence in a real-world clinical setting.
Methods
We conducted a prospective, single-center, cluster-randomized pilot study at the Emergency Department of Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital in Rome, Italy, from December 2024 to March 2025. Eligible participants were adult patients (≥18 years) with suspected ischemic stroke presenting within 24 hours of symptom onset. Randomization occurred by day, assigning patients to either the Cerebri group (app providing clinical decision support plus a timer function) or the control group (timer function only, without decision support). Primary outcomes were IDT (imaging to decision time: the time from imaging completion to therapeutic decision) and adherence to European Stroke Organisation guidelines. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, NIHSS, wake-up stroke status, revascularization therapies, hemorrhagic stroke, and stroke mimics were performed.
Results
Fifty patients (mean age 73.1±13.3 years, 64% female) were enrolled (25 Cerebri, 25 control). Patients in Cerebri group had significantly reduced median imaging to decision time (6 vs. 22 minutes; adjusted difference: −18.9 minutes, 95% CI −32.4 to −5.2, p=0.006). Overall guideline adherence was significantly higher in the Cerebri group (96% vs. 73.9%; adjusted OR 11.6, 95% CI 1.12–121.16, p=0.040). Therapeutic guideline adherence was 100% in the Cerebri group vs. 86.9% in control (p=0.062).
Conclusions
Cerebri significantly improved decision-making speed and adherence to stroke guidelines in the hyperacute management of ischemic stroke. The app demonstrated feasibility and efficacy even in non-tertiary stroke centers, suggesting its potential for broader implementation to enhance stroke care quality and equity.
