Abstract TP36: Stroke Prevention Community Outreach Education During A Pandemic

Abstract

Background: During the 2020/2021 pandemic Integris Health’s Stroke Awareness Community Education Goals continued. Educating our communities about the early warning signs of stroke and emergency steps to initiate when someone experiences stroke symptoms saves lives. With community closings during the pandemic, locating our community partners and developing creative ways to continue to educate became a challenging and rewarding project. Purpose: The purpose of our “new” pandemic community stroke awareness program was to continue our mission goals to teach as many people as possible; a) the short, simple way to recognize a possible stroke, b) learn what to do and what NOT to do if a stroke is suspected, and c) to secure emergency help immediately. The processes to meet these goals were successfully modified permitting our program to continue. Methods: Prior to the 2020 pandemic the stroke community educator utilized an in-person teaching/learning strategy. Guided by new pandemic teaching/learning methods such as remote lunch & learns, electronic communication platform learning, vaccine clinic education, drive by health fairs and educating at staff huddles community education continued. Creative ways to distribute promotional stroke awareness items were also developed and distributed. Results: Significant community education during the pandemic continued with more than 3000 participants receiving stroke awareness education. Prior to our modification processes our community outreach programs were not providing education to any community contacts. Modifying a Community Stroke Awareness Program during a pandemic can be a successful way to continue this valuable educational platform. Conclusions: Our new creative community education program demonstrated that community education can continue in a pandemic. Finding creative ways to reach closed communities were successful and our stroke education/stroke prevention mission continued.