Abstract:Objective To evaluate the effect of problem-solving quality control circle (QCC) in regulating the use of antiplatelet agents in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) after endovascular treatment. Methods A QCC was established, and the theme of the activity was “shortening the sequential treatment time of antiplatelet agents in AIS patients after endovascular treatment”. From Jan. 2019 to Dec. 2020 (before the implementation of the QCC), 121 AIS patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy and bridging sequential treatment of antiplatelet agents in our center were enrolled. The main factors affecting the time of sequential treatment of antiplatelet agents were analyzed, and the QCC intervention measures for improving the current situation were proposed. In addition, 95 AIS patients who received the same treatment in our center from Jan. to Dec. 2021 (after the implementation of the QCC) were enrolled to implement the intervention measures of problem-solving QCC, and the application was evaluated and analyzed. Results There were no significant differences in age, gender, admission National Institutes of Health stroke scale score, or onset-to-recanalization time between the pre- and post-QCC groups (all P>0.05). Before the implementation of the QCC, the duration of drug interruption was 133 (110, 175) min, the sequential treatment time was 367 (183, 496) min, and the non-compliance rate of sequential treatment time was 45.5% (55/121). According to Plato’s 80/20 rule, the main reasons for the non-compliance of sequential treatment time were long waiting time for computed tomography (CT) examination (36.4%, 20/55), waiting time for interpretation of CT results >60 min (27.3%, 15/55), and nurses not knowing the patients’ oral medication time (20.0%, 11/55). After the implementation of the QCC, the duration of drug interruption was 38 (25, 71) min, the sequential treatment time was 257 (210, 298) min, and the non-compliance rate of sequential treatment time was 7.4% (7/95), which were significantly different from those before the implementation of the QCC (all P<0.001). Before and after the implementation of the QCC, 3 and 2 patients had symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 7 d of sequential treatment, and the difference was not significant (P>0.05); there was no gastrointestinal bleeding within 7 d of sequential treatment. Conclusion The application of problem-solving QCC can standardize the administration process of antiplatelet agents for AIS patients after mechanical thrombectomy, shorten the duration of drug interruption of patients, specify the bridging time of oral drugs, and improve the medication safety of patients.