Research Project Summary
Physicians and medical students from Cooper Medical School at Rowan University (CMSRU), Nurses and nursing students from Rutgers University Camden, and Schools within the Camden community will be actively engaged in a collaborative network to provide education in schools regarding signs and symptoms of stroke. Currently, Camden is a highly underrepresented minority community consisting of approximately 42.9% and 52.8% Black and Hispanic residents respectively. Due to the social determinants of health that disproportionately affect communities of color, Black adults are 45% more likely to die from stroke. Fewer than 5% of patients with a stroke, present in time to be treated with a life-saving clot-busting medication, and this is particularly evident in impoverished communities, like Camden.
Prior publications showed that education of children is a viable method of providing stroke education to adults in communities. Due to the unique factors that affect underserved population’s access to healthcare and education, exploring these factors as they pertain to stroke education, would provide invaluable information.
Research Project Goals
We believe our study will “fulfill the promise,” by demonstrating increased recognition of stroke symptoms in elementary school children who receive the SPARKS curricula, compared to students who do not.
Research Project Objectives
1. Demonstrate increased recognition of stroke symptoms in elementary school children. 2. Allow for multigenerational education, as many households in Camden are multigenerational households, which therefore may reduce disparities in stroke related morbidity and mortality. 3. Show representation of a variety of medical providers to school aged children in Camden in order to provide role models to diversify interest in health care careers.