Importance of increasing awareness of children and adolescents about risk factors and the main symptoms of the stroke

Untimely hospitalization of patients due to ignorance of the main stroke symptoms leads to high mortality and inefficiency of treatment. Primary prophylaxis is an effective method of preventing and reducing the consequences of this disease, because it is aimed at identifying and reducing the severity of modifiable risk factors (RFs). For successful prevention, it is necessary to take into account not only medical, but also social aspects, including related to raising awareness of the population about RFs and stroke symptoms. School awareness programs in this area are a new way of delivering the necessary information not only to the children, but also to their parents. The review includes the experience of both foreign and domestic studies in conducting similar educational programs for children. The lecture or conversation conducted by a neurologist or a teacher is the common method of providing the children with necessary knowledge in the prevention of stroke and other acute cardiovascular events. The role playing is also possible. As additional materials, brochures, leaflets, magnets, comic books, animated cartoons, and video games can be used. The main methods for assessing of acquisition of knowledge of stroke symptoms and RFs include tests that respondents complete before participating in the program and after training at different time intervals, depending on the purpose of the assessment. Educational programs aimed at increasing the awareness of schoolchildren about stroke symptoms and RFs, meet the objectives and have repeatedly confirmed effectiveness in various studies.

stroke, risk factors, stroke symptoms, increasing awareness