Continuity and Change in Baseline Stroke Knowledge across the world: Second Wave of FAST Heroes campaign implementation

Jan van der Merwe; Kalliopi Tsakpounidou; Maria Baskini; Chris Webb; Christos Keramydas; Sheila Cristina Ouriques Martins; Marianne Elisabeth Klinke; Hariklia Proios

doi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2023.107426

Continuity and Change in Baseline Stroke Knowledge across the world: Second Wave of FAST Heroes campaign implementation

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2023 Dec;32(12):107426. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2023.107426. Epub 2023 Oct 13.

Authors

Jan van der Merwe¹, Kalliopi Tsakpounidou², Maria Baskini³, Chris Webb⁴, Christos Keramydas⁵, Sheila Cristina Ouriques Martins⁶, Marianne Elisabeth Klinke⁷, Hariklia Proios⁸

Affiliations

¹ Boehringer Ingelheim International Gesellschaft mit Beschränkter Haftung (GmbH), Healthcare Affairs and Patient Engagement, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany; Department of Educational and Social Policy, University of Macedonia, Egnatia Str 156, Thessaloniki, 54636, Greece. Electronic address: jan.van_der_merwe@boehringer-ingelheim.com.
² Department of Educational and Social Policy, University of Macedonia, Egnatia Str 156, Thessaloniki, 54636, Greece. Electronic address: tsakpounidoukalliopi@uom.edu.gr.
³ Department of Educational and Social Policy, University of Macedonia, Egnatia Str 156, Thessaloniki, 54636, Greece. Electronic address: mbaskini@uom.edu.gr.
⁴ Twelve, 3 Liverpool Gardens, Worthing, West Sussex, England. Electronic address: chris@wearetwelve.co.uk.
⁵ Department of Supply Chain Management, International Hellenic University, Kanellopoulou Str 2, Katerini, 60100, Greece. Electronic address: keramidasx@ihu.gr.
⁶ Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Neurology, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Av. Protásio Alves, 211 - Santa Cecília, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-903, Brazil. Electronic address: sheila@redebrasilavc.org.br.
⁷ Faculty of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Eirberg, Eiríksgötu 34, 107, Reykjavik, Iceland. Electronic address: marianne@hi.is.
⁸ Department of Educational and Social Policy, University of Macedonia, Egnatia Str 156, Thessaloniki, 54636, Greece. Electronic address: hproios@uom.gr.

PMID: 37839302
DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2023.107426

Abstract

Objectives: In this work we present the results of the implementation of a globally representative educational school-based stroke awareness programme, FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) Heroes during the second year of education (wave 2). We aimed to observe changes in baseline stroke knowledge between wave 1 and wave 2, distinguish the more fine-grained effect of the campaign on society, and evaluate changes before and after the implementation of wave 2.

Materials and methods: In wave 2, parents of school-aged children completed an online stroke preparedness questionnaire before (t1) and after (t2) programme implementation. Results between the time points were analyzed with descriptive statistics alongside changes in baseline knowledge between waves 1 and 2.

Results: 1,611 parents participated in wave 2. Parents increased their knowledge of three stroke symptoms from 69% to 87% (p<.001). Their knowledge of the designated emergency number rose from 75% (t1) to 88% (t2) (p<.001). A 17% increase in baseline knowledge occurred in stroke symptoms identified correctly between wave 1 (11 countries) and 2 (18 countries).

Conclusions: Results support the precision and usability of the data collection approach in measuring the change in stroke knowledge between implementation waves. The increased baseline knowledge concerning stroke symptoms in wave 2 needs further examination.

Keywords: community awareness; education; knowledge; pre-hospital care; school-based programme; stroke; symptoms.

MeSH terms

Child
Educational Status
Health Education* / methods
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Schools
Stroke* / diagnosis
Stroke* / therapy