title: Improving stroke knowledge through a 'volunteer-led' community education program in Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Public awareness of stroke risks and warning signs remains poor. The National Stroke Foundation (NSF) in Australia has been undertaking a StrokeSafe Ambassador Education program to raise awareness of stroke. The format includes presentations by volunteers trained to be 'ambassadors' to spread standard information about stroke to the public. Our aim was to determine the change in knowledge of participants who attended presentations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed questionnaires before immediately after presentations, and at 3months following the presentation. Information was collected on knowledge of risk factors and signs of stroke. McNemar's test was used to compare paired-responses over time. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between March and April 2014, 591 participants attended 185 presentations and 591 (100%) completed them before and immediately after presentation questionnaires: 68% were female and 75% were aged 65years or more. 258 consented for further follow-up with 192 completing follow-up. Comparing immediately after with before presentation showed significantly improved knowledge for all 10 stroke risk factors and all signs of stroke. Significantly improved knowledge for 7/10 risk factors and 1/3 signs of stroke was found when comparing follow-up and immediately after presentation results. Knowledge of 5/10 risk factors and 2/3 signs of stroke improved when comparing follow-up and before presentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study describes a novel approach to support the use of trained volunteers to provide a community-based, standardised education program for stroke. This program shows that community presentations can improve immediate and short-term knowledge of signs and risk factors for stroke.
authors.affiliation: Stroke & Ageing Research, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC Australia; Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Heidelberg, VIC Australia. Electronic address: Monique.kilkenny@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Monique F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Kilkenny
authors.affiliation: Stroke & Ageing Research, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC Australia; Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Heidelberg, VIC Australia.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Purvis
authors.affiliation: National Stroke Foundation, Melbourne, VIC Australia.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.affiliation: Stroke & Ageing Research, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC Australia.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reyneke
authors.affiliation: National Stroke Foundation, Melbourne, VIC Australia.
authors.forename: Jude
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czerenkowski
authors.affiliation: Stroke & Ageing Research, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC Australia; Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Heidelberg, VIC Australia.
authors.forename: Dominique A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cadilhac
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014838:Volunteers
keywords: Australia; Community; Education; Prevention; Risk factors; Stroke; Stroke signs