Stroke 112: A Universal Stroke Awareness Program to Reduce Language and Response Barriers.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Public Health
• Medical Education

Background:

• A universal stroke educational program is needed to improve global stroke awareness and reduce prehospital delays.
• Existing programs may face language barriers, necessitating a universally accessible alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test the acceptance of a universal stroke educational program, "Stroke 112", in Taiwan.
• To compare the memorability of Stroke 112 with the existing FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) program.

Main Methods:

• Stroke 112 was created using the emergency number 112, with numbers corresponding to stroke signs: 1 (face), 1 (arm), 2 (speech).
• Online surveys were administered in Taiwan to assess public and neurologist acceptance of Stroke 112 compared to FAST.
• Surveys were conducted before and after the official release of Stroke 112 in Taiwan.

Main Results:

• Initially, 54.6% of responders found Stroke 112 easier to remember than FAST (41.2%).
• After release, 66.4% found Stroke 112 more memorable (P=0.0001).
• Among neurologists, 74.6% preferred Stroke 112 over FAST (16.4%, P=0.0001).

Conclusions:

• Stroke 112 is a universally applicable stroke educational program without language barriers.
• The program shows high acceptance in Taiwan and has potential for worldwide implementation, especially where 112 is the emergency number.