Know Stroke in the Community: Disseminating Stroke Information to Underserved and at-Risk Communities

Background:  Each year, 780,000 Americans suffer a stroke.  It is the third-leading cause of death and a leading cause of long-term disability in the United States.  African Americans and Hispanics suffer more severe strokes than white Americans and have a greater incidence of risk factors, including high blood pressure, smoking, and high cholesterol.  To help address and reduce the risk of stroke and significant health disparities among African Americans and Hispanics, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has taken an innovative approach to multicultural outreach through a community-based program, Know Stroke in the Community (KSIC). Through this program, launched in 2004, NINDS has become a leader in partnering with trusted community messengers and providing underserved, at-risk audiences with vital information about stroke­­—a serious, but largely unfamiliar health issue in the communities it affects most. 

Program background:  The KSIC program provides a unique way to disseminate stroke information to community leaders who, in turn, deliver that information through a variety of activities in their communities.  These “Stroke Champions” come from many organizations, including churches, EMT/fire departments, community-based organizations, and clinics. The Champions are trained on stroke basics, including risk factors, symptoms, and the importance of calling 911 for immediate care; resources; and techniques for educating hard-to-reach audiences about a serious health risk.  A cornerstone of the program is engaging the Champions in planning, assessing their community needs and concerns, and conducting the training sessions in an effort to build an alliance of local stroke advocates.

Evaluation Methods and Results: 

• Since 2004, KSIC has expanded to 12 cities, including Houston, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Charleston.  In all, 168 Champions have conducted hundreds of community events, reaching tens of thousands of people.
• Champions complete evaluation forms, providing feedback on the program and materials, as well as activity reports detailing education events, estimated attendance, and the number and type of NINDS stroke materials disseminated.     
• NINDS is currently developing pre- and post-training surveys to determine baseline stroke knowledge and more rigorously assess outcomes in each city.

Conclusions:  Strong partnerships that engage community leaders—from program planning through implementation and evaluation—foster a commitment to adopt long-term efforts for disseminating critical health information. These local efforts extend the reach of public health programs, provide key audience insights and cultural understanding, and more effectively disseminate health information to underserved communities.

Implications for research and/or practice:  KSIC can serve as a model for other programs seeking to provide underserved audiences with relevant/resonant health information through trusted community messengers.