Authors: (including presenting author): :
Raymond Wai-man LEUNG(1), Karin Yuk-lan CHOW(1), NTWC Stroke Nursing Team
Affiliation: :
(1) NTWC Stroke Nursing Team
Keyword 2: :
community education
Introduction: :
Despite advancements in acute stroke management and secondary prevention within hospital settings, public awareness remains a significant bottleneck for timely stroke treatment. A snapshot survey at Tuen Mun Hospital on newly admitted stroke patients revealed a concerning gap: only around 30% had heard of the "FAST" mnemonic prior to their stroke. This lack of health literacy directly impacts "door-to-needle" times by delaying hospital presentation. To bridge this gap, the NTWC Stroke Nursing Team goes beyond bedside care to community outreach, collaborating with community partners to deliver specialized health education to community-dwelling individuals.
Objectives: :
To evaluate the effectiveness and impact of a nurse-led community outreach model in improving stroke literacy and awareness of hyperacute treatment windows.
Methodology: :
A mixed-methods study was conducted between October 2024 and November 2025. The NTWC Stroke Nursing Team delivered on-site education talks across various community centers, elderly centers, and District Health Centers (DHCs). Evaluation included a quantitative pre- and post-test questionnaire assessing stroke knowledge, and qualitative focused interviews to capture participant perspectives on the education model.
Result & Outcome: :
Over 600 participants attended 20 community talks. The majority were stroke-naïve individuals. Stroke knowledge scores of participants improved significantly from a pre-test mean of 6.1/10 to a post-test mean of 8.8/10. Most participants identified the "FAST" symptoms and the 4.5-hour "golden window" for thrombolysis after education. Interviews with participants revealed that the "credibility" of hospital-based specialty nurses was a primary driver of engagement. Participants reported feeling more "psychologically safe" and comfortable asking questions in a familiar community setting compared to a clinical environment. They also valued updates on HA initiatives, such as latest stroke treatments, primary stroke diversion, and pre-hospital notification collaboration with Fire Service Department. Nurse-led community outreach is an effective strategy to "break the wall" between the hospital and the public. By leveraging the clinical authority of specialty nurses in a community setting, this model significantly improves stroke literacy. Such initiatives are vital for fostering a "stroke-ready" community, potentially increasing the proportion of patients arriving within the thrombolysis window.
