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. 2008 Apr;5(2):A49.
Epub 2008 Mar 15.

Addressing stroke signs and symptoms through public education: the Stroke Heroes Act FAST campaign

Hilary K Wall  1 , Brianne M Beagan, June O'Neill, Kathleen M Foell, Cynthia L Boddie-Willis
Affiliations

Addressing stroke signs and symptoms through public education: the Stroke Heroes Act FAST campaign

Hilary K Wall et al. Prev Chronic Dis. 2008 Apr.

Abstract

Introduction: In 2003, only 18% of Massachusetts adults were aware of all signs and symptoms of stroke, but 80% would call 9-1-1 if they thought someone was having a stroke or heart attack. Because early recognition leads to early treatment and improved clinical outcomes, increasing symptom recognition could have an impact on stroke survival and stroke patients' quality of life.

Methods: We conducted secondary research to identify messages with evidence-based effectiveness for communicating stroke signs and symptoms. From these results, a Stroke Heroes Act FAST animation was created and concept-tested. Non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black women aged 40 to 64 years received education on stroke signs and symptoms. Knowledge change about stroke signs and symptoms was calculated immediately following and 3 months after the education session.

Results: Using Stroke Heroes Act FAST educational materials that were developed, 72 women (mean age, 54 years; 15.5% were non-Hispanic blacks) received education about signs and symptoms of stroke and took the pretests and posttests to assess knowledge change. Immediately after the education session, significant increases were seen in the percentage of participants who recognized that facial droop (92% vs 99%, P = .02) and arm weakness or numbness (86% vs 97%, P = .004) were symptoms of stroke. Of the 65 participants who were given the 3-month follow-up survey, 100% remembered slurred speech and facial drooping as symptoms; 98.5% recalled arm weakness or numbness; and 97% would call 9-1-1 if they thought someone was having a stroke. None of these is a significant change from the posttest.

Conclusion: The Stroke Heroes Act FAST kit may be a useful tool for improving knowledge of stroke signs and symptoms among adults.

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Figures

This poster has four images to show how to identify stroke signs in someone and to encourage one to call 9-1-1 at any sign of stroke. The four images represent the acronym FAST. The first is F for face, and has a man’s face that is uneven and droops on one side. The second is A for arm, and has a woman who seems unable to hold both arms up at the same time — one arm is lower than the other. The third is S for speech, and has a woman appearing to say something but the words are nonsense. The fourth is T for time, and has a phone, a clock, and an ambulance to stress the importance of calling 9-1-1 at any sign of stroke, because brain cells die every second during a stroke.
Figure.
Stroke Heroes Act FAST poster
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Coalition initiatives: stroke symptoms guide. Bethesda (MD): The Brain Attack Coalition; [Accessed October 1, 2007]. http://www.stroke-site.org/coalition/stroke_symptoms.html.

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