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

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

Jan van der Merwe  1 , Kalliopi Tsakpounidou  2 , Maria Baskini  3 , Chris Webb  4 , Christos Keramydas  5 , Sheila Cristina Ouriques Martins  6 , Marianne Elisabeth Klinke  7 , Hariklia Proios  8
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Free article

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

Jan van der Merwe et al. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2023 Dec.
Free article

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors Jan van der Merwe, Kalliopi Tsakpounidou, Maria Baskini, Chris Webb, and Hariklia Proios are employed by Boehringer Ingelheim. All authors declare no other competing interests.

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