Discussion of Suboptimal Stroke Awareness

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Limited Stroke Awareness Promotes Care Delays
There are Useful Mnemonics to Promote an Understanding of Stroke Symptoms
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Problem Overview

Stroke remains the fifth largest cause of death in the U.S. and the key cause of bodily function loss or disability (American Stroke Association). According to predictions, due to population aging, stroke and associated complications will become the first cause of “lost health life-years” by the 2020s (Grech and Grech 1). By 2050, the number of individuals older than 65 facing increased risks of cerebrovascular disease is expected to reach or exceed 35% (Grech and Grech 1). However, stroke knowledge among the general population is still imperfect.

Thesis Statement

Suboptimal stroke awareness results in severe health consequences, so people should learn and actively disseminate stroke-related information, including easy-to-remember mnemonics.

Limited Stroke Awareness Promotes Care Delays

Barriers to Stroke Recognition

The timeliness of getting adequate medical attention is affected by diverse factors linked with insufficient awareness. As per research, among them are poor knowledge, a false sense of control over the condition, misconceptions linked with stroke symptoms’ perceived severity, and even being embarrassed to contact emergency medical services (Grech and Grech 2).

Stroke and Care Delays

From level I evidence (systematic reviews of systematic review studies), it is known that most delays in stroke care stem from patients’ insufficient stroke-related knowledge (Lachkhem et al. 427). In stroke cases, timely responses are crucial to survival and adequate recovery. In general, every minute without treatment, a person experiencing stroke loses 1,900,000 brain cells (ASA).

There are Useful Mnemonics to Promote an Understanding of Stroke Symptoms

Purpose of Mnemonics

In health education, mnemonics are patterns of letters, with each letter representing a critical term. Many mnemonics are targeted at medical and nursing professionals, while some can assist the general population in memorizing crucial facts about health conditions or disease prevention tips.

Acting F.A.S.T.

The F.A.S.T. mnemonic is recommended by the American Stroke Association to promote the basics of stroke recognition in English-speaking populations (ASA). As per a randomized controlled trial conducted by Dombrowski and colleagues in 2015, “Act FAST” leaflets successfully promote the ability to recall the key symptoms of stroke (Grech and Grech 2).

The F.A.S.T. mnemonic includes four components to enable a person to spot a stroke and react immediately (ASA):

F stands for drooping in the Face. One section or one side of the face might be drooping and difficult to move. One is recommended to ask a potential stroke patient to smile and check if the smile looks uneven.
A stands for weakness in the Arms that usually affects one arm more than the other. A simple test is to ask an individual to raise both arms simultaneously and check whether one of the arms tends to drift downwards.
S stands for sudden Speech impairments and abnormalities that affect the ability to communicate thoughts clearly. A person having a stroke might have trouble speaking or understanding other people’s phrases. Asking a person to repeat a simple sentence is a practice to reveal slurred speech or a state of confusion.
T stands for Time and is to remind about the importance of acting immediately. If the signs above are present, calling the emergency services and reporting a suspected stroke is essential.

B.E.F.A.S.T.

B.E.F.A.S.T. and F.A.S.T. are approximately equally effective in promoting stroke detection outside of hospitals (Pickham et al. 1). B.E.F.A.S.T. is an extended version of the F.A.S.T. mnemonic that contains two additional components:

B stands for a person’s sudden inability to maintain Balance or a loss of coordination.
E stands for suddenly emerging irregularities affecting a person’s Eyes. For instance, one might develop double vision or have trouble seeing either in one eye or both eyes.

Conclusion

Using simple mnemonic devices peculiar to stroke symptoms and teaching this information to others is essential to improve basic stroke awareness.

Works Cited

American Stroke Association. “Stroke Symptoms.” ASA. Web.

Grech, Paulann, and Reuben Grech. “The Role of Health Promotion Theories in Stroke Awareness and Education.” Applied Nursing Research, vol. 58, 2021, pp. 1-7. Web.

Lachkhem, Yacine, et al. “Understanding Delays in Acute Stroke Care: A Systematic Review of Reviews.” The European Journal of Public Health, vol. 28, no. 3, 2018, pp. 426-433. Web.

Pickham, David, et al. “Prognostic Value of BEFAST vs. FAST to Identify Stroke in a Prehospital Setting.” Prehospital Emergency Care, 2018, pp. 1-6. Web.

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