The impact of a stroke screening program.
Stroke is a leading cause of serious disability and is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Prevention and early intervention are key to reducing death and disability from stroke. This study investigated the impact of a community-based stroke-screening program on the knowledge of participants regarding signs and symptoms of stroke, related emergency action, and personal risk factors for stroke. Self-reported behavioral changes were also recorded. Initial data were collected at the screening site as part of the program, and follow-up data were collected by telephone interview at 1, 3, and 6-month intervals after the screening. Of the 107 people who participated in the screening, 85 (79%) participated in all three follow-up interviews. Findings indicate that participants in this community-based stroke-screening program showed increases in their knowledge about stroke, including what a stroke is, signs and symptoms, related emergency action, personal risk factors, and ways to reduce risk. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate that the knowledge was retained throughout the study period. Approximately half of the participants also reported having made at least one behavioral change to reduce their stroke risk.
Willoughby
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Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, USA. willoud@clemson.edu
Sanders
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Privette
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D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology