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By Marla Sommer August 25, 2022
We would like to acknowledge Kiran Bam (PhD student), Dr Muideen Olaiya, Professor Dominique Cadilhac, Professor Geoffrey A Donnan, Lisa Murphy and Professor A/Monique Kilkenny whose research paper has been published in The Lancet Public Health. This pivotal study focuses on using a new combination approach to overcome current gaps in primary stroke prevention.
This approach integrates structural interventions with known, evidence-based behavioral and pharmacological interventions to optimize current strategies for primary stroke prevention. Current primary stroke prevention approaches such as healthy eating, physical activity, smoking cessation, and use of preventive medications for risk factor control are often implemented at the individual level . However, for these strategies to be effective at the population level, broader structural interventions are needed.
The article focuses on the urgent need to integrate interventions aimed at addressing structural factors into existing primary stroke prevention interventions, and proposes a series of structural tools. These tools are superimposed on a socio-ecological model, which incorporates individual, community, socio-cultural and political contexts. Components of our proposed toolbox include international advocacy, commitment and funding for stroke prevention policies, having a healthier and safer environment to facilitate the adoption of evidence-based strategies , capacity building and task shifting in stroke prevention, and addressing cultural and social misconceptions about stroke. These tools are essential to the development of a comprehensive and holistic stroke prevention framework and will serve as a checklist for the implementation and review of your country-specific strategic plan.
The recommendations made have the potential to reduce the incidence and associated burden of stroke globally.
“Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in Australia and around the world. The effect of stroke on the quality of life of survivors, their carers or family members is profound. Our The proposed combined approach has the potential to prevent stroke and any associated burden,” said Associate Professor Kilkenny.
The proposed combined approach is novel for primary stroke prevention.
The research paper is supported by Monash University, the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and the Stroke Foundation. You can read it here.