Abstract
Poor public awarness about correct response to stroke symptoms limits the use of effective therapies, mainly intravenous thrombolysis. Educational campaign has been conducted in the Czech Republic since 2006 with the goal to improve stroke awarness and increase the number of patients receiving acute stroke therapies.
The aim of our study was to analyze the results of nationwide educational campaign. Two independent and complementary sources of information were used for analysis of the effect of educational campaign.
A) The time from stroke onset to thrombolytic therapy was compared before and after the start of campaign (2008- 2010 versus 2004- 2005) using the data from SITS register. B) The awarness about stroke was assessed based on nation-wide survey in 2005 and 2009 using three-stage random sampling method.
The median time from stroke onset to admition to hospital was 68 minutes versus 70 minutes (p=0,45) in 2004- 2005 (n=374) versus 2008- 2010 (n=1684), respectively. In 2005 (n=592) the respondents would call 911 for 27% of given stroke symptoms as well as in 2009 (n=601) (p=0,76).
Statistically significant better response was observed in respondents, who noticed the campaign as compared to those who did not notice the campaign and those who were interviewed in 2005. The public awarness about stroke was improved in only one fifth of the population after four years lasting nationwide educational campaign.
However, the time from stroke onset did not shorten. More intensive campaign targeting wider population can improve awarness and shorten the time from stroke symptom onset to call 911.