Published Online
on July 17, 2008

A more recent version of this article appeared on October 1, 2008

This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 39/10/2809    most recent STROKEAHA.107.513143v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Williams, O. Articles by Noble, J. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Williams, O. Articles by Noble, J. M. Related Collections Health policy and outcome research Primary prevention Acute Cerebral Infarction Acute Stroke Syndromes Behavioral Changes and Stroke Emergency treatment of Stroke Related Article

Submitted on December 19, 2007
Revised on March 3, 2008
Accepted on March 5, 2008

‘Hip-Hop’ Stroke. A Stroke Educational Program for Elementary School Children Living in a High-Risk Community

Olajide Williams MD, MSc^* and James M. Noble MD

From the Department of Neurology (O.W.), Harlem Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY; and the Department of Neurology and GH Sergievsky Center (J.M.N.), Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ow11{at}columbia.edu.

Background and Purpose—Public stroke recognition is poor and poses a barrier to acute stroke treatment. We describe a stroke literacy program that teaches elementary school children in high-risk communities to recognize stroke and form an urgent action plan; we then present results of an intervention study using the program.

Methods—"Hip-Hop" Stroke uses culturally and age-appropriate music and dance to enhance an interactive didactic curriculum including the FAST mnemonic (Facial droop, Arm weakness, Speech disturbance, Time to call 911). The program occurred in central Harlem, New York City, a community with high stroke risk. During the 2006 to 2007 school year, 582 fourth, fifth, and sixth graders (9 to 11 years of age) participated in 1-hour sessions over 3 consecutive days. Stroke knowledge was tested before and after the program with a 94% group participant retention.

Results—Students learned and retained knowledge well for stroke localization (20% correct before intervention, 93% correct immediately afterward, and 86% correct after 3-month delay; P<0.001 both posttests versus baseline), the term "brain attack" (16% pretest, 95% immediate, 86% delayed; P<0.001), and to call 911 for stroke (78% pretest, 99.8% immediate, 98% delayed; P<0.001). FAST stroke symptoms (facial droop and slurred speech) were better retained than non-FAST symptoms (headache and blurred vision) at 3 months (P<0.001). For stroke prevention measures, dietary change and exercise were better learned than concepts of diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol.

Conclusions—Elementary school children are educable about stroke, retain their knowledge well, and may be able to appropriately activate emergency services for acute stroke. Incorporating cultural elements such as hip-hop music may improve retention of stroke knowledge among the youth.

Key words: African-Americans • cerebrovascular accident • child • health education • health literacy

Related Article:

Strengthening the Link: The Critical Role of Children in the Stroke Chain of Recovery

Stephen M. Davis
Stroke 2008 39: 2695-2696. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Z. Willey, O. Williams, and B. Boden-Albala Stroke literacy in Central Harlem: A high-risk stroke population Neurology, December 8, 2009; 73(23): 1950 - 1956. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. D. Lisabeth and D. Kleindorfer Stroke literacy in high-risk populations: A call for action Neurology, December 8, 2009; 73(23): 1940 - 1941. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Davis, D. Martinelli, B. Braxton, K. Kutrovac, and T. Crocco The Impact of the Extended Parallel Process Model on Stroke Awareness: Pilot Results From a Novel Study * Supplemental Text Stroke, December 1, 2009; 40(12): 3857 - 3863. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. G. Rudd and L. S. Williams Advances in Health Policy and Outcomes Stroke, May 1, 2009; 40(5): e301 - e304. [Full Text] [PDF]