Multifaceted Mass Media Campaign on the Warning Signs of Stroke

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

The Multifaceted Media Campaign on the Warning Signs of Stroke was designed to increase public awareness of the warning signs of stroke. Stroke outcomes decline with delays in seeking medical attention; by increasing public awareness the program aims to ensure timely access to emergency care. The 2-year mass media intervention consisted of a 30-second, black-and-white television advertisement giving the warning signs of stroke and a print advertisement based on the television advertisement. Awareness surveys were conducted in four different communities which received either high-level television advertising, low-level television advertising, print advertisements, or no media campaign.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this media campaign was to increase public knowledge of the warning signs of stroke.

Impact

The ability to name the warning signs of stroke increased in communities exposed to television ads.

Results / Accomplishments

Telephone surveys conducted among members of the general public before and after mass media campaigns in the control and test communities were used to determine the effectiveness of the campaigns. In communities exposed to television advertising, the ability to name the warning signs of stroke increased significantly (p's < 0.02). There was no significant change in the community receiving print advertising, and the control community had a significant decrease in knowledge (p < 0.001). Television advertising increased the knowledge of both men and women, and of people with less than a secondary school education, but not of individuals over age 65. Low-level television advertising was as successful as continuous, high-level television advertising.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
Primary Contact
Krista Orendorff
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
2300 Yonge Street, Suite 1300
Toronto, ON M4P 1E4
416-489-7111 x402
korendorff@hsf.on.ca
http://www.heartandstroke.on.ca/site/c.pvI3IeNWJwE...
Topics
Health / Heart Disease & Stroke
Health / Prevention & Safety
Organization(s)
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
Source
Stroke
Date of publication
Aug 2003
Date of implementation
1999
Location
Canada
For more details
http://stroke.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/34/...
Target Audience
Adults

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Related Content for: Multifaceted Mass Media Campaign on the Warning Signs of Stroke

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.