The effects of a traditional Korean medical stroke prevention education program on the awareness of stroke in elderly Koreans

Abstract

IntroductionStroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a traditional Korean medicine stroke prevention education program (TKM-SPEP) on the awareness of the symptoms of stroke in a group of elderly people living in Korea. MethodsA total of 149 subjects participated in the TKM-SPEP. Their demographic characteristics and past medical history were recorded. All participants received the TKM-SPEP, which included background information about the symptoms, etiology, and prevention of stroke. All education programs were conducted by three TKM clinicians, including a qigong exercise expert and a stroke rehabilitation expert. The first session consisted of an examination of the participants’ health conditions and an introduction to stroke, and the second session provided information about the symptoms and after-effects of stroke. The third session focused on methods to prevent stroke from both TKM and Western Medicine (WM). In the fourth and final session, stroke treatment and rehabilitation were discussed using an integrative method. After completing the TKM-SPEP, the behavioral changes of the subjects were assessed. ResultsPrior to participating in the TKM-SPEP, many participants were unaware of the symptoms, etiology, and prevention methods of stroke. After completing the program, the participants had a significantly improved understanding of the warning signs (P=0.0269), causes (P=0.0002), prevention (P=0.0002) and effects of a stroke (P=0.0002). ConclusionsThe TKM-SPEP may be an effective tool for stroke prevention, but further research is needed to determine if its use has any long-term benefits on stroke prevention.