Effects of a school-based stroke education program on stroke-related knowledge and behaviour modification―school class based intervention study for elementary school students and parental guardians in a Japanese rural area

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the effect of a stroke education programme on elementary school students and their parental guardians in a rural area in Japan that has high stroke mortality.DesignSchool class based intervention study.SettingEleven public elementary schools in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.Participants268 students aged 11–12 years and 267 parental guardians.InterventionsStudents received lessons about stroke featuring animated cartoons and were instructed to communicate their knowledge about stroke to their parental guardians using material (comic books) distributed in the lessons. Stroke knowledge (symptoms, risk factors and attitude towards stroke) and behavioural change for risk factors were assessed at baseline, immediately after the programme and at 3 months. We also evaluated behavioural change for risk factors among parental guardians.ResultsThe percentage of students with all correct answers for stroke symptoms, risk factors and the recommended response to stroke was significantly increased at 3 months P