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Journal of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Research | Volume 3
August 23-24, 2018 | Paris, France
Neurology and Neurological Disorders
18
th
International Conference on
Mass media health promotion interventions for increasing stroke awareness in young people:
A systematic review of the literature
Kelly Flowers
University of Florida, USA
Background:
One of the greatest public health challenges is
developing mass media health behavior change programs and
interventions to improve the health and reduce the burden of
chronic disease. Approximately 10-20% of all diagnosed strokes
occur inyoungadults (18-45yearsold) eachyear. Thispopulation
is not typically targeted for stroke mass media campaigns;
therefore,somebarriersexistrequiringtailoredhealthpromotion
interventions, whose effectiveness remains uncertain.
Objective:
A systematic review aimed to identify relevant
published evidence, synthesize themain study components and
identify evidence of the effectiveness of the interventions for
mass media campaigns targeting the awareness of theWarning
Signs (WS) and Risk Factors (RF) for stroke in young people.
Supplementary factors of message repetition and need to call
9-1-1 at first sign of stroke symptoms were also examined.
Method-Data Sources:
PubMed, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO
were searched for journal articles on health promotion
interventions for increasing stroke awareness of warning signs
in young people, published in English between 2005 and 2015.
Results:
Twenty-six studies investigating mass media stroke
campaigns were included, reporting only two studies that
targeted young adults.
With amajority of stroke communication studies not employing
theories it is difficult to determine the relationship among
variables and thus provide an explanation regarding their
relationship. Out of 26 studies reviewedonly one study utilized a
theoryandnostudiesusedtheorytostudystrokeinyoungadults.
The mass media interventions in these studies varied in widely
target populations, settings, delivery methods, contents and
messaging involved. Twenty-four of the study designs were
quantitative, and the emerging evidence of effectiveness was
inconclusive.
None of the studies included variables or messaging on the
severityof havinga strokeand theneed tocall 9-1-1 immediately
upon witnessing WS. Additionally, no studies included variables
that measured repetition of messaging and the increase of
stroke WS and RF.
Conclusion:
Further investigation is needed in mass media
stroke education targeting young adults. Since no studies
targeting young adults have been conducted using a theory,
measuring the effects of message repetition, and utilizing
educational messaging to ensure immediate transport to a
hospital upon first stroke WS further research is needed.
e:
kflowers@ufl.edu