Background: Stroke is a time-critical medical emergency. The first step in ensuring better outcomes is getting to hospital quickly, which means recognising the signs and calling triple zero. To support the rollout of the NSW Telestroke Service, Stroke Foundation ran a three-year F.A.S.T. (Face. Arms. Speech. Time) Community Education Program in regional NSW (2020-2022), funded by NSW Health.
Aims: To increase unprompted awareness of the signs of stoke in regional NSW communities, and ensure more people know to dial triple zero as their first action.
Methods: The program was rolled out in a phased approach in line with the NSW Telestroke Service implementation strategy. An integrated multi-channel advertising campaign (commercial television, radio, YouTube, social media, bus-back advertising, and hospital patient Wi-Fi displays) was used. Media activity focused around each Telestroke site launch and Government communication. Community education StrokeSafe presentations were used along with local community partnerships to deliver grass-roots community messaging and engagement which helped spread awareness through trusted local voices.
Results: There was a total of 408 media mentions, 182,199 30-second YouTube ad impressions (49.6% viewed full video) and 148,313 social media impressions. Thirty-three StrokeSafe presentations were delivered reaching approximately 1,000 residents, and 1,500 local community partners were engaged. The multi-level targeted approach was pivotal to the success of this program, resulting in a 23% uplift in unprompted awareness of two or more F.A.S.T. signs of stroke from 22% in 2020 to 45% in 2022, as measured through Stroke Foundation’s annual surveys.
Conclusion: This increased F.A.S.T. awareness, means more residents of regional NSW recognise the common signs of stroke and the importance of seeking emergency treatment to improve outcomes. Quick access to life-saving diagnosis and treatment means less death and disability caused by stroke. These factors reduce the impact stroke has on the community, and the burden on the health economy.