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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02846363

REACT AGAINST STROKE

Acute stroke management represents a true medical emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and urgent treatment. In a previous exhaustive cohort study conducted in the Rhône region, France (AVC69) the investigators observed that only a small percentage of patients could access to thrombolysis in time. In this cohort of 1306 patients treated in one of the emergency department of the Rhone region for a suspected stroke, 84% of patients reached hospital through an emergency department instead of going directly to a stroke unit. Among those patients, only 8% were finally thrombolysed, because of extended management times.. Our hypothesis was that public awareness campaign designed to improve public's knowledge and skills would consequently reduce prehospital time and favour call to prehospital emergency medical services (EMS).

The investigators will conduct an awareness campaign aimed at the general population, using different communication media, the content will be developed based on the results of a qualitative study with focus groups (Quali-AVC), and using a diffusion plan established with communications professionals. To assess the effects of this campaign, a comparative quasi-experimental before-after study will be conducted. A control region where no awareness stroke program has been set up has been selected, data will be collected in the two regions. The assessment of the impact of the campaign will focus on the comparison of the evolution of indicators between these two regions. Three assessment time will be provided: before starting the program, at 3 months and at the end of the program.

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Key information

Conditions

Stroke Brain Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Nervous System Diseases Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Pôle Information Médicale, Evaluation, Recherche 162 avenue Lacassagne

Lyon, 69424, France

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • All adult patients calling EMS for suspected stroke identified by at least one symptom among face paralysis, limb paralysis or speech disorder (FAST positive)

Exclusion criteria

  • age below 18

Treatment and study plan

public awareness campaign

Other

The public awareness campaign was based on improving knowledge and skills of public to recognize stroke symptoms. The campaign materials were:

  • 3 posters presenting the three main symptoms of stroke and the need to call the EMS immediately
  • A leaflet on stroke will be created
  • 3 participatory movies: These films will be posted on YouTube and broadcast on the website and the Facebook campaign page
  • Actions on social networks: A Facebook group will be created ("AVC: votre appel peut sauver des vie).
  • A website developed with ICAP - UCBL Lyon1 (http://avc.univ-lyon1.fr/)
  • On the occasion of World Stroke Day, held annually on 29 October, will be organized an event in Lyon in order to educate and inform the general public about stroke: the main symptoms and reflexes to adopt in case of stroke: call the EMS urgently

Primary outcomes

  1. Increase the number of calls to EMS (French call number 15) for stroke

    Time frame: 24 hours

    Comparison between the two regions of the changing number of calls to EMS for suspected stroke between 1 month before the start of campaign and 12 months after campaign. Calls to EMS for suspicion of stroke will be collected over a period of 60 consecutive days at each assessment period. Suspicion of stroke will be defined as the presence of a positive test FAST, which mean at least one of the three symptoms: Face, Arm or Speech disability, identified by phone by the EMS triage officer or emergency physician.

Secondary outcomes

  1. reduction of the time between symptoms and call to EMS for suspected stroke

    Time frame: 24 hours

    Comparison between the two regions of changes between 1 month before the start of campaign and 12 months after campaign of the time between the onset of symptoms and the call to EMS for suspected stroke.

  2. increase in the number of calls to EMS for stroke within 3 hours after symptoms onset

    Time frame: 3 hours

    Comparison between the two regions of the changing proportion of calls to EMS for suspected stroke within 3 hours between 1 month before the start of campaign and 12 months after campaign.

  3. Knowledge of the general population about stroke

    Time frame: 12 months

    Comparison between two regions of changes between 1 month before the start of campaign and 12 months after campaign in the proportion of respondents who know the 3 main symptoms of stroke (facial paralysis, limb paralysis and speech impaired)

  4. recognition of the need to immediately call EMS when faced with stroke suspicion

    Time frame: 12 months

    Comparison between two regions of changes between 1 month before the start of campaign and 12 months after campaign in the proportion of respondents saying that the most appropriate response to a person having a stroke is to call the EMS without delay.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hospices Civils de Lyon

Other

Registry information

Acronym: AVC - REACT

Important dates

Study start
2014
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Jul 27, 2016
Registry last updated
Jul 28, 2016

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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