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The impact of a stroke screening program.
D F Willoughby1, L Sanders, A Privette
1Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, USA. willoud@clemson.edu
Public Health Nursing (Boston, Mass.)
|December 12, 2001
Summary
Community stroke screenings significantly improve participant knowledge of stroke signs, symptoms, and risk factors. This enhanced awareness, including emergency actions, was retained long-term, with many participants adopting healthier behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Neurology
- Community Health
Background:
- Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in the US.
- Effective prevention and early intervention strategies are crucial for reducing stroke's impact.
- Community-based programs can play a vital role in public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based stroke-screening program.
- To assess changes in participants' knowledge of stroke signs, symptoms, emergency actions, and risk factors.
- To determine if participants reported behavioral changes to reduce stroke risk.
Main Methods:
- A community-based stroke-screening program was implemented.
- Participants' knowledge and self-reported behaviors were assessed at the screening.
- Follow-up data were collected via telephone interviews at 1, 3, and 6 months post-screening.
- Data from 107 participants were analyzed, with 85 completing all follow-ups.
Main Results:
- Participants demonstrated increased knowledge regarding stroke identification, emergency response, and personal risk factors.
- This knowledge gain was sustained throughout the 6-month follow-up period.
- Approximately 50% of participants reported making at least one behavior modification to lower their stroke risk.
Conclusions:
- Community-based stroke screening is an effective method for enhancing public knowledge of stroke.
- Sustained knowledge retention suggests the program's long-term impact.
- The program successfully encouraged participants to adopt risk-reducing behaviors.