Effect of two 12-minute culturally targeted films on intent to call 911 for stroke

Abstract

Objective: We assessed the behavioral effect of two 12-minute culturally targeted stroke films on immediately calling 911 for suspected stroke among black and Hispanic participants using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design.

Methods: We enrolled 102 adult churchgoers (60 black and 42 Hispanic) into a single viewing of one of the 2 stroke films-a Gospel musical (English) or Telenovela (Spanish). We measured intent to immediately call 911 using the validated 28-item Stroke Action Test in English and Spanish, along with related variables, before and immediately after the intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Results: An increase in intent to call 911 was seen immediately following the single viewing. Higher self-efficacy for calling 911 was associated with intent to call 911 among Hispanic but not black participants. A composite measure of barriers to calling 911 was not associated with intent to call 911 in either group. A significant association was found between higher stroke symptom knowledge and intent to call 911 at baseline, but not immediately following the intervention. No sex associations were found; however, being older was associated with greater intent to call 911. The majority of participants would strongly recommend the films to others. One participant appropriately called 911 for a real-life stroke event.

Conclusions: Narrative communication in the form of tailored short films may improve intent to call 911 for stroke among the black and Hispanic population.

Figure. Role of stroke films in the Health Belief Model for the acute stroke situation

Adapted from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Stroke Proceedings of a National Symposium on Rapid Identification and Treatment of Acute Stroke. STAT = Stroke Action Test.