title: Gender-specific differences in stroke knowledge, stroke risk perception and the effects of an educational multimedia campaign.
abstract: This study aimed at identifying gender-specific differences in stroke knowledge, stroke risk perception and the educational effects of a multimodal educational intervention. We performed computer-assisted telephone surveys among an average sample of 500 members of the general public (44.0% male, 56.0% female), before and immediately after an intense 3-month educational stroke campaign in a western German area of 400,000 inhabitants. The intervention was comprised of poster advertisements and various print media. Slogans and stroke interest stories appeared regularly in local newspapers, on television and radio and public events focussed on the subject. Even before the intervention, more women than men were able to name at least one stroke warning sign (71.3 vs. 57.8%, p < 0.01), to name the correct emergency call number (33.3 vs. 24.3%, p < 0.05) or to cite the correct action in acute stroke ("call emergency care", 87.2 vs. 70.1%, p < 0.001). In some aspects women showed a generally better improvement of knowledge after the campaign (e.g. correct emergency call number: +5.7 vs. +1.2%, p < 0.05). Fewer women than men considered themselves as being at risk of stroke (30.9 vs. 36.9%. p < 0.01) with a significant increase following the intervention in both sexes (38.9/46.0%, p < 0.01). The perception of different educational media varied between the sexes. For example, female sex was independently associated with a better recall of poster advertisements and flyers in pharmacies and at the doctor's office (OR 1.44). Our data indicate that educational programs do have gender-specific effects. Women show a better stroke knowledge and in some aspects a better chance to gain information from classical broad educational interventions. Future campaigns should be tailored economically, and should focus different media and educational messages on the two sexes accordingly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55101, Mainz, Germany. marx@neurologie.klinik.uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: Juergen J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klawitter
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faldum
authors.forename: Bernhard M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Eicke
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haertle
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dieterich
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nedelmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003469:Culture; D003625:Data Collection; D004631:Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D009524:Newspapers as Topic; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010465:Perception; D011639:Public Opinion; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D040241:Social Marketing; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy