Akiko Morimoto1, Naomi Miyamatsu, Tomonori Okamura, Hirofumi Nakayama, Kazunori Toyoda, Kazuo Suzuki, Akihiro Toyota, Takashi Hata, Takenori Yamaguchi. 1. From the Department of Clinical Nursing, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan (A.M., N.M.); Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan (T.O.); Japan Stroke Association, Osaka, Japan (H.N., T.Y.); Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan (K.T.); Department of Epidemiology, Research Institute for Brain and Blood Vessels, Akita, Japan (K.S.); Rehabilitation Center, Chugoku Rosai Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan (A.T.); Department of Neurology, Shizuoka City Shimizu Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan (T.H.); and National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan (T.Y.).
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To assess the effects of intensive and moderate public education on knowledge of early stroke symptoms among a general Japanese population. METHODS: Information on early stroke symptoms was distributed by leaflet 12× and by booklet twice in an intensive intervention area >22 months, and by leaflet and booklet once each in a moderate intervention area. No distribution occurred in the control area. Before and after the intervention, a mailed survey was conducted in the 3 areas. A total of 2734 individuals, aged 40 to 74 years, who did not select all 5 correct symptoms of stroke in the preintervention survey were eligible for our analysis. RESULTS: The numbers of correct answers selected about stroke symptoms did not differ significantly among the 3 areas in the preintervention survey (P=0.156). In the postintervention survey, the proportions of participants who selected sudden 1-sided numbness or weakness (94.2% in the intensive intervention area, 88.3% in the moderate intervention area, and 89.2% in the control area; P<0.001) and sudden severe headache (76.8%, 70.1%, and 70.4%, respectively; P<0.001) differed significantly among the 3 areas. After adjustment for confounding factors, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for correctly choosing all 5 symptoms were 1.35 (1.07-1.71) in the intensive intervention area and 0.96 (0.74-1.24) in the moderate intervention area compared with the control area. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that frequent distribution of leaflets and booklets significantly improved the short-term knowledge of community residents about early symptoms of stroke.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To assess the effects of intensive and moderate public education on knowledge of early stroke symptoms among a general Japanese population. METHODS: Information on early stroke symptoms was distributed by leaflet 12× and by booklet twice in an intensive intervention area >22 months, and by leaflet and booklet once each in a moderate intervention area. No distribution occurred in the control area. Before and after the intervention, a mailed survey was conducted in the 3 areas. A total of 2734 individuals, aged 40 to 74 years, who did not select all 5 correct symptoms of stroke in the preintervention survey were eligible for our analysis. RESULTS: The numbers of correct answers selected about stroke symptoms did not differ significantly among the 3 areas in the preintervention survey (P=0.156). In the postintervention survey, the proportions of participants who selected sudden 1-sided numbness or weakness (94.2% in the intensive intervention area, 88.3% in the moderate intervention area, and 89.2% in the control area; P<0.001) and sudden severe headache (76.8%, 70.1%, and 70.4%, respectively; P<0.001) differed significantly among the 3 areas. After adjustment for confounding factors, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for correctly choosing all 5 symptoms were 1.35 (1.07-1.71) in the intensive intervention area and 0.96 (0.74-1.24) in the moderate intervention area compared with the control area. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that frequent distribution of leaflets and booklets significantly improved the short-term knowledge of community residents about early symptoms of stroke.
Entities:
Keywords:
early stroke symptoms; knowledge; leaflet/booklet distribution; public education
Authors: Fidel Meira; Daiane Magalhães; Luiz Sérgio da Silva; Ana Clara Mendonça E Silva; Gisele Sampaio Silva Journal: Cerebrovasc Dis Extra Date: 2018-05-22