Educating Children About Stroke -- NEWS TIPS

American Stroke Association Meeting Report - Embargoed until 3pm CT/4pm ET


Regardless of presentation date and time, all three abstracts will have the same embargo release at 3 p.m. CT, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. For more information Feb. 1-3, call the ASA News Media Staff Office at the New Orleans Convention Center at (504) 670-6010. Before or after these dates, call Communications in Dallas at (214) 706-1396. For public inquiries call (800) AHA-USA1 (242-8721).

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 30, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  These news tips feature research on the success of stroke education programs conducted among students during summer vacation and among elementary and middle school students during the school year.

Abstract 3024 – Summer program encourages kids to be 'stroke detectives'

Twenty-two third graders became "stroke detectives" in the Penn State Hershey Medical Center Stroke Program.

The Stroke Detective Summer Challenge included packets — distributed at local libraries, a summer day camp and shown on a website — with a stroke detective pledge, activity book, exercise and healthy eating log and a scavenger hunt.

The participants were required to sign the pledge and return completed activity and food logs along with the signature logs of five people they each educated with FAST cards (Face, Arms, Speech, Time).

In addition, they were each accompanied by one or both parents, as well as siblings. As part of the games, all were consistently able to shout out what FAST stood for, calling 9-1-1 as the appropriate action to take, the importance of not being a couch potato, and what a healthy snack should look like.

After completing the program, the third graders received a detective bag, healthy snack recipes, giveaways and an official stroke detective T-shirt.

"We based the program's success on the enthusiastic participation of the children, their siblings and parents," said Kathy Morrison, lead researcher of the study.

Note: Actual presentation is 6:15 p.m. CT, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012.

Abstract 3391 – Middle school students in stroke prevention program increase knowledge, modify behavior

Stroke prevention programs for middle school students can increase their knowledge of the risk factors and warning signs of stroke and self-efficacy (confidence in recognizing stroke and taking action when a stroke is suspected).

In Cincinnati, Ohio, 77 students at one school participated in the FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) Stroke Prevention Program for nine months while 101 were controls in another school. Comparison data on blood pressure, waist circumference and body mass index were also collected.

The FAST program is a nine-month program containing six modules:

  • Basic stroke information (major stroke risk factors, signs and symptoms, calling 9-1-1, identification of their own major stroke risk factors);
  • Healthy eating;
  • Exercise, part of daily routine;
  • Sharing stroke information with significant others and the community;
  • Maintaining modifiable stroke risk reduction changes; and
  • Individual path forward – successes and areas to improve pertaining to stroke prevention.

Students, 10-14 years old and primarily African-American, were tested prior to and after the program. Participants in the FAST program knew significantly more about the warning signs of stroke and risk factors and scored higher on modifying risk factors than the students from the control school.

Of those who had modifiable stroke factors – such as increasing exercise, eating a healthy diet and quitting smoking – 42 percent of the students in the FAST program reported achieving their objective and another 19 percent reported making progress.

Students in the FAST program also improved body mass index and blood pressure, but it wasn't statistically significant when compared with students in the control school.

Note: Actual presentation is 6:15 p.m. CT, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012.

Abstract 2478 – Musical cartoons increase stroke knowledge in fourth graders

Viewing specifically messaged musical cartoons increased stroke literacy among fourth graders living in a neighborhood with a high stroke risk, researchers said.

Sixty-four fourth graders in a Harlem school watched a three-and-a-half-minute cartoon three times on two consecutive days. The musical cartoons were designed to provide knowledge in stroke symptoms, appropriate action and prevention measures. Students were then evaluated on their knowledge of where a stroke occurs in the body and the appropriate action to take when symptoms occur.

Researchers tested the children prior to and after watching the educational cartoons. They created a composite score from five stroke symptoms (blurry vision/loss of vision, sudden headache, facial weakness, clumsiness/in coordination, slurred/confused speech) and a distractor (chest pain).

Prior to the cartoons, 12.5 percent of students identified where a stroke occurs and 47.2 percent knew to call 9-1-1 when stroke was suspected.

After viewing the cartoons, almost 72 percent knew where a stroke occurred and 87.5 percent knew to call 9-1-1.

Furthermore, knowledge of stroke symptoms improved significantly on three of five items (composite score was 2.62 before watching the cartoons and 4.62 afterwards).

Note: Actual presentation is 6:15 p.m. CT Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012. 

Author disclosures are on the abstracts.

NR12-1007 (ISC 2012/Kids & Stroke Tip Sheet)

Statements and conclusions of study authors that are presented at American Stroke Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position.  The association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events.  The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content.  Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding.  

Additional resources:



            

Tags


Contact Data