Brain Circulation (Jan 2024)

The development of the neurocritical care specialty in China based on the analysis of neurocritical care unit volume and quality

  • Yingying Su,
  • Junfang Teng,
  • Suyue Pan,
  • Wen Jiang,
  • Furong Wang,
  • Fei Tian,
  • Jing Jing,
  • Huijin Huang,
  • Jie Cao,
  • Huaiqiang Hu,
  • Liping Liu,
  • Wei Li,
  • Cheng Liang,
  • Liansheng Ma,
  • Xuegang Meng,
  • Linyu Tian,
  • Changqing Wang,
  • Lihua Wang,
  • Yan Wang,
  • Zhenhai Wang,
  • Zhiqiang Wang,
  • Zunchun Xie,
  • Mingyao You,
  • Jun Yuan,
  • Chaosheng Zeng,
  • Li Zeng,
  • Le Zhang,
  • Lei Zhang,
  • Xin Zhang,
  • Yongwei Zhang,
  • Bin Zhao,
  • Saijun Zhou,
  • Zhonghe Zhou

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/bc.bc_71_23
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 67 – 76

Abstract

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PURPOSE: Through three neurocritical care unit (NCCU) surveys in China, we tried to understand the development status of neurocritical care and clarify its future development. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional survey method and self-report questionnaires, the number and quality of NCCUs were investigated through three steps: administering the questionnaire, sorting the survey data, and analyzing the survey data. RESULTS: At the second and third surveys, the number of NCCUs (76/112/206) increased by 47% and 84%, respectively. The NCCUs were located in tertiary grade A hospitals or teaching hospitals (65/100/181) in most provinces (24/28/29). The numbers of full-time doctors (359/668/1337) and full-time nurses (904/1623/207) in the NCCUs increased, but the doctor–bed ratio and nurse–bed ratio were still insufficient (0.4:1 and 1.3:1). CONCLUSION: In the past 20 years, the growth rate of NCCUs in China has accelerated, while the allocation of medical staff has been insufficient. Although most NCCU hospital bed facilities and instruments and equipment tend to be adequate, there are obvious defects in some aspects of NCCUs.

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