A quasi-experimental study on a community-based stroke prevention programme for clients with minor stroke

Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a community‐based stroke prevention programme in (1) improving knowledge about stroke; (2) improving self‐health‐monitoring practice; (3) maintaining behavioural changes when adopting a healthy lifestyle for stroke prevention. Background. People with minor stroke (or transient ischaemic attack) tend to under‐estimate the long‐term impact of this on their health. The challenge for nurses is to prevent subsequent strokes by finding ways to promote and sustain appropriate behaviours. Educational intervention is of paramount importance in equipping those at risk with relevant knowledge and self‐care strategies for secondary stroke prevention. Design. This study adopted a quasi‐experimental design. Method. One hundred and ninety subjects were recruited, of whom 147 (77 in the intervention group and 70 in the control group) completed the study. Data were obtained at three time points: baseline (T0); one week after (T1) and three months after (T2) the intervention. The intervention programme consisted of eight weekly two‐hour sessions, with the aims of improving the participants’ awareness of their own health signals and of actively involving them in self‐care management of their own health for secondary stroke prevention. Results. Significant positive changes were found among participants of the intervention group in the knowledge on stroke warning signs (P