The impact of the UK ‘Act FAST’ stroke awareness campaign: content analysis of patients, witness and primary care clinicians’ perceptions

BMC Public Health

Martin White²  Martin P Eccles³  Gary A Ford⁶  Madeleine J Murtagh⁴  Richard G Thomson³  Helen Rodgers⁵  Vera Araujo-Soares³  Falko F Sniehotta²  Joan E Mackintosh³  Stephan U Dombrowski¹ 

[1] Division of Psychology, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Cottrell Building, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK;Fuse, UKCRC Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK;Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK;Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK;Institute for Ageing & Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AE, UK;Acute Stroke Unit, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK

关键词: Mass-media campaign;    Awareness;    Stroke;    Delay;   

Others  :  1161707
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-13-915

 received in 2013-01-07, accepted in 2013-09-30,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

The English mass media campaign ‘Act FAST’ aimed to raise stroke awareness and the need to call emergency services at the onset of suspected stroke. We examined the perceived impact and views of the campaign in target populations to identify potential ways to optimise mass-media interventions for stroke.

Methods

Analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted as part of two qualitative studies, which examined factors influencing patient/witness response to acute stroke symptoms (n = 19 stroke patients, n = 26 stroke witnesses) and perceptions about raising stroke awareness in primary care (n = 30 clinicians). Both studies included questions about the ‘Act FAST’ campaign. Interviews were content analysed to determine campaign awareness, perceived impact on decisions and response to stroke, and views of the campaign.

Results

Most participants were aware of the Act FAST campaign. Some patients and witnesses reported that the campaign impacted upon their stroke recognition and response, but the majority reported no impact. Clinicians often perceived campaign success in raising stroke awareness, but few thought it would change response behaviours. Some patients and witnesses, and most primary care clinicians expressed positive views towards the campaign. Some more critical participant comments included perceptions of dramatic, irrelevant, and potentially confusing content, such as a prominent ‘fire in the brain’ analogy.

Conclusions

Act FAST has had some perceived impact on stroke recognition and response in some stroke patients and witnesses, but the majority reported no campaign impact. Primary care clinicians were positive about the campaign, and believed it had impacted on stroke awareness and recognition but doubted impact on response behaviour. Potential avenues for optimising and complementing mass media campaigns such as ‘Act FAST’ were identified.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Dombrowski et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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