Abstract 2629: The Effectiveness Of A Stroke Educational Activity Performed By A Schoolteacher For Junior High School Students

Abstract

Background and Purpose: School-based programs of stroke enlightenment would be promising means to improve prevention of stroke as well as to spread the knowledge of stroke. Junior high school education is compulsory in Japan. We developed an educational system of stroke for junior high school students and teachers. Our purpose is to verify the effectiveness of this educational system to acquire knowledge of stroke for junior high school educations. Methods: Subjects were 100 students in the 3 rd grade of a public junior high school (40 girls, 14-15 years old). A stroke neurologist gave 45 minutes’ lesson in stroke to 25 students (S group) and 1 schoolteacher of health education by use of our educational system. A stroke neurologist also performed instructions to the schoolteacher how to use our stroke educational system to the students. The system includes stroke signs, symptoms, the FAST massage (Facial droop, Arm weakness, Speech disturbance, Time to call 119) and risk factors. After instructions by the stroke neurologist, the schoolteacher performed the lesson using the same educational system to the other 75 students (T group). Questionnaires on stroke knowledge (total 12 items for stroke signs and 10 items for risk factors) were examined for all students at the baseline and immediately after the lesson. Results: The total scores were not significantly different between the 2 groups either at the baseline or immediately after the lesson. In the S group, the items of correct answers on stroke signs[median 11(IQR 8-11) vs. 6(6-8.5) , P<0.001 ]and stroke risk factors [9(8-9) vs. 7(5-7.5), P<0.001] significantly increased after the lesson than at baseline. In the T group, the items of correct answers on stroke signs [10(8-11) vs. 7(6-9), P<0.001 ]and stroke risk factors [8(7-10) vs. 7(6-8); P<0.001]also significantly increased. On the FAST massage, there is no significant difference between 2 groups (73% vs. 92%; P=0.056). Conclusions: The stroke education program using our educational system would be promising means for junior high school educations.