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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Hilary K. Wall, MPH, Kathleen M. Foell, RD MS LD, and Cynthia L. Boddie-Willis, MD, MPH. Division of Health Promotion Disease Prevention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, Fourth Floor, Boston, MA 02108, 617-624-5411, hilary.wall@state.ma.us

Background – In 2003, 80% of Massachusetts adults report that they would call 9-1-1 if they thought someone was having a heart attack or stroke. Only 17.5% of Massachusetts adults, however, could recognize all stroke signs and symptoms. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention and Control Program developed a 3-minute animation, based on the Cincinnati Pre-hospital Stroke Scale, to improve knowledge of observable stroke signs in the Commonwealth. Objective – To evaluate the effectiveness of the content and assess the efficacy of using a 3-minute animation to convey the three observable signs of stroke. Methods – The animation was concept tested in three groups consisting of white non-Hispanic seniors over 65, black non-Hispanic seniors over 65 and adult children of seniors (n=34). Results – Immediately after being shown the animation video, 100% of participants indicated that the topic of the video was stroke and 100% identified the action to take at the first sign of a stroke is to call 9-1-1. 76.5% identified all three observable signs of stroke while 17.6% identified two out of three symptoms. Concept testing revealed three consistent opinions: 1) the animation provided a comfortable, upbeat, “less scary” approach to a serious health issue, 2) the animation and music formats provided a simple, direct and uncluttered flow of visual and auditory information, and 3) the accompanying song was consistently described as “catchy” and the animation style was simple but appealing. Conclusion – A 3-minute animation is an effective way to convey three major signs of stroke.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the effectiveness of the content of a 3-minute animation to convey the three observable signs of stroke to seniors over 65 and their adult children
• Articulate the efficacy of using an animation format to convey the three observable signs of stroke to seniors over 65 and their adult children

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation