BACKGROUND: Public awareness campaigns are conducted to increase stroke awareness, yet evidence of their long-term effectiveness is limited. Since 2006, the Czech Stroke Society has conducted an educational campaign throughout the Czech Republic (CR) to increase awareness about stroke. This report evaluates the effectiveness of this campaign by comparing the results of a nationwide survey on stroke awareness in 2009 with the results from 2005. METHODS: In 2009, a nationwide survey was conducted throughout the CR using the same methodology as in 2005 and employing a 3-stage random sampling method (area, household, and household member sampling). Participants >40 years of age were personally interviewed via a structured questionnaire concerning their knowledge and ability to correctly respond to stroke as assessed by the validated Stroke Action Test (STAT). The primary outcome measure was the difference in a STAT score >50% (i.e. respondents chose to call 911 for >50% of stroke symptoms) between 2005 and 2009. Campaign intensity was characterized by a systematic search for media messages about stroke in the CR. RESULTS: A total of 601 interviews were obtained (90% response rate) in 2009 (592 people were interviewed in 2005). A STAT score >50% was achieved by 18% of the respondents both in 2005 and 2009 (p = 0.89). There was no increase in the knowledge of risk factors or warning signs between 2005 and 2009. Respondents who noticed the campaign (19%) had better STAT scores than respondents who did not (25 vs. 17%; p = 0.038). A systematic search revealed that the campaign had reasonable intensity because there were 978 media reports about stroke between 2006 and 2008. CONCLUSIONS: A medium-intensity educational campaign, based on donated advertising media, failed to increase stroke awareness. However, if the campaign had reached more people, it might have been effective. Therefore, in the future, paid advertising media should accompany free media, although such approach would require a substantially larger budget. Awareness campaigns should be constantly evaluated for their effectiveness to develop more successful strategies.

• MeSH
• cévní mozková příhoda epidemiologie   MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hodnocení výsledků zdravotní péče * MeSH
• komunikační systémy urgentních lékařských služeb statistika a číselné údaje   trendy   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• longitudinální studie MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• následné studie MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• sběr dat MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• uvědomování si MeSH
• zdraví - znalosti, postoje, praxe MeSH
• zdravotní výchova statistika a číselné údaje   trendy   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke treatment is time-dependent, yet no study has systematically examined response to individual stroke symptoms in the general population. This nationwide study identifies which specific factors prompt correct response (calling 911) to stroke. METHODS: Between November and December of 2005, a survey using a 3-stage random-sampling method including area, household, and household member sampling was conducted throughout the Czech Republic. Participants >40 years old were personally interviewed via a structured and standardized questionnaire concerning general knowledge and correct response to stroke as assessed by the Stroke Action Test (STAT). Predictors of scoring >50% on STAT were identified by multiple regression. RESULTS: A total of 650 households were contacted, yielding 592 interviews (response rate 91%). Mean age was 58+/-12, 55% women. Sixty-nine percent thought stroke was serious condition, and 57% thought it could be treated. Also 54% correctly named >/=2 risk factors, and 46% named >/=2 warning signs. Eighteen percent of respondents scored >50% on STAT. The predictors of such a score were age (for each 10-year increment, OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2 to 1.7), secondary school education (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.6), knowing that stroke is a serious disease (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.1), and knowing that stroke is treatable (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.2). CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge about stroke in the Czech Republic was fair, yet response to warning signs was poor. Our study is the first to identify that calling 911 was influenced by knowledge that stroke is a serious and treatable disease and not by recognition of symptoms.

• MeSH
• cévní mozková příhoda ošetřování   prevence a kontrola   terapie   MeSH
• komunikační systémy urgentních lékařských služeb statistika a číselné údaje   trendy   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pacientův souhlas se zdravotní péčí statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• stupeň vzdělání MeSH
• trombolytická terapie psychologie   trendy   MeSH
• urgentní zdravotnické služby statistika a číselné údaje   trendy   MeSH
• věkové faktory MeSH
• vzdělávání pacientů jako téma statistika a číselné údaje   trendy   MeSH
• zdravé chování MeSH
• zdraví - znalosti, postoje, praxe MeSH
• zdravotní výchova statistika a číselné údaje   trendy   MeSH
• zdravotnické přehledy MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

As part of a Norwegian campaign to reduce serum cholesterol levels, the general public of the City of Bergen was invited to participate in cholesterol testing in October 1988. Participants received the results of the cholesterol screening and nutritional information from trained health personnel. In order to evaluate selected aspects of the campaign, a short questionnaire was mailed to all 354 participants 1-2 weeks after the initial cholesterol screening, and then again one year later. Participation-rate exceeded 90% at both surveys. Demographic variables and cholesterol levels were obtained at baseline, whereas participants' perceptions and reactions to the campaign, as well as their intentions to change eating patterns were assessed both in 1988 and in 1989. In addition, whether or not participants had had their cholesterol remeasured during the past 12 months (and if so, the result) as well as implemented dietary changes were assessed in October 1989. Results from this study showed that cholesterol screening was perceived very positively by the participants, that participants with a high baseline cholesterol level reported that they intended to make dietary changes, and that they, one year later, reported to have implemented a number of health enhancing dietary changes. A smaller, but substantial proportion of the population did, however, report becoming alarmed when receiving the test results. Subjects who did not experience a reduction in cholesterol level over the next year remained alarmed. Thus, cholesterol screening has the potential of creating fear concern and should, for this reason, be conducted by trained health personnel only, and accompanied by appropriate counselling.

• MeSH
• cholesterol krev   MeSH
• dieta MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• kohortové studie MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• následné studie MeSH
• plošný screening MeSH
• poradenství MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• sexuální faktory MeSH
• stravovací zvyklosti MeSH
• velikost vzorku MeSH
• zdravotní výchova organizace a řízení   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Norsko MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cholesterol MeSH