Roles of patient education in primary and secondary prevention

Area Recommendations
Strokes are not inevitable

• Explain that there are now diagnostic and treatment strategies that can help to prevent some strokes. They may:
(1) correct a problem before a full-blown stroke occurs or
(2) if a stroke does occur, may restore circulation "before any brain dies"

Reducing stroke risk

• Inform and motivate patient to reduce risks by explaining medical and lifestyle factors
Recognizing warning signs of TIA/stroke

• Discuss the major stroke warning signs
• Provide appropriate patient education material
Knowing how to
seek help 		• Advise patient or family members to call 911 immediately and tell dispatcher about stroke warning signs, or go to the hospital emergency room if it is nearby. They should not delay in order to consult relatives or to discuss the situation with their physician
Stroke warning signs may be intermittent • Explain that a TIA (or mini-stroke) is an extremely important warning that the brain is ready to have a stroke--and that stroke may occur very soon. Warning signs may only last a few minutes and then go away, but the patient still needs to seek immediate medical help. Treatments are now available that can help to lower the risk of having a stroke.
Prevention/
Follow-up care 		• Explain what has happened, and how risk modification and medical or surgical treatment can be effective in reducing the chances of having a stroke. Follow-up care after a stroke can help prevent future possibly more serious strokes in the future.

As a reminder, these are the five warning signs of stroke as described in patient education literature provided by the American Stroke Association: