A questionnaire survey regarding the 2012 WSD Taiwan campaign was administered by our trained interviewers to the attendees.
In total, 350 attendees participated in the survey, and only 57.89% of the attendees identified the brain as the main damaged organ in stroke. Most attendees recognized ischemic stroke (85.94%) as a stroke type and hypertension (47%) as a common risk factor. The three most commonly recognized stroke symptoms were limb weakness, slurred speech, and facial weakness. Most attendees could seek medical help and call emergency services if a stroke occurred. Regarding the main themes, only 56.16% and 19.76% of the attendees knew about golden hours 123 and the FAST (Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, Time) mnemonic, respectively, prior to the campaign. Furthermore, 50.44% of the attendees knew that thrombolytic therapy is the treatment of choice for stroke, and 58.06% and 40.32% of the attendees were partially and completely satisfied with the campaign, respectively. Only 20 attendees showed good stroke literacy.
When preparing for future WSD campaigns, the organizing committee must perform a detailed assessment to understand target population requirements and design more appropriate events. For promoting the WSD campaigns, proficient advertising is necessary for attracting attendees and increasing their willingness to participate.