Abstract Body: Background: Stroke ranks among the leading causes of death and disability globally. Early intervention following stroke markedly improves outcomes but depends on rapid hospital access within a critical timeframe. Delayed responses to symptoms continue to impede timely treatment, highlighting the need for stronger public education. Children, especially those aged 5–9, are emerging as effective advocates in stroke awareness through initiatives like the FAST Heroes campaign, which educates them on recognizing symptoms and responding appropriately. Family members and friends engage indirectly through conversations with children, the program’s website, and stroke-related materials.
Objectives: To evaluate public awareness of modifiable stroke risk factors and changes in stroke awareness following rollout of the national FAST Heroes campaign in Iceland (population ~380,000).
Methods: A stroke preparedness questionnaire was distributed to a stratified random sample of 2,488 Icelandic residents aged 20–70, sourced from the Icelandic National Citizen Registry, containing knowledge on stroke preparedness, symptom recognition, response, and modifiable risk factors. Data was collected online before an educational wave in 2023 and will be reissued in December 2024. The sample composition reflects Icelandic demographics by gender, age, education, and residence. Descriptive statistics summarized initial results, and correlation tests will analyze changes between timepoints, to be presented at the conference.
Results: The initial survey achieved a 37.6% response rate (935 respondents). Recognition of emergency actions was moderate, with 64–76% correctly identifying calling emergency services if encountering someone with facial or arm paralysis or speech issues. Stroke symptoms such as facial drooping, slurred speech, and arm weakness were correctly identified by 94.3%, 95.3%, and 73.4% of respondents, respectively, when presented alongside a range of non-stroke symptoms. However, only 40% agreed or strongly agreed that they felt secure in what to do during a stroke, with 30% disagreeing and 30% remaining neutral. When asked to list the top three modifiable stroke risk factors, only 22.6% identified hypertension.
Conclusions: These findings highlight key gaps in public knowledge regarding modifiable stroke risk factors and underscore the need for targeted educational initiatives. Healthcare professionals can use these insights to prioritize areas for public stroke education.