Education on Heart Attack and Emergency Medical Services Response in Areas with High Risk and Low EMS Utilization: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomized Study - Summary - MDSpire

Education on Heart Attack and Emergency Medical Services Response in Areas with High Risk and Low EMS Utilization: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomized Study

  • By

  • Janet E. Bray

  • Ziad Nehme

  • Judith C. Finn

  • Jessica Kasza

  • Janelle Woods

  • Robyn A. Clark

  • Dion Stub

  • Dominique A. Cadilhac

  • Joosup Kim

  • Ben J. Smith

  • Susie Cartledge

  • Alison Beauchamp

  • Rhys Bowden

  • Natasha Dodge

  • Elizabeth Flemming-Judge

  • Clara Chow

  • Nicholas Cox

  • William van Gaal

  • Voltaire Nadurata

  • Peter Cameron

  • Heart Matters Investigators

  • Karen Smith

  • Tony Walker

  • Adam J Stormont

  • Amanda K Buttery

  • Roni Beauchamp

  • Erin R Bowen

  • Roslyn Cochrane

  • James Nigro

  • Donna N Koik

  • Alicja T Najbar-Kaszkiel

  • Nousa Sooriah

  • Anita Sterling

  • Georgie Ockenden

  • Elizabeth Cerini

  • Kelly E Donnelly

  • Jesse D Lewis

  • Ararso Olani

  • Kelly-Ann Jolly

  • April 27, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To evaluate whether a multifaceted community education campaign in high-risk local government areas (LGAs) improves ACS knowledge, increases awareness of personal risk, and prompts appropriate treatment-seeking behaviors, ultimately aiming to reduce delays in seeking emergency care.

Key Findings:
  • The intervention aimed to improve awareness of ACS symptoms and the importance of EMS use, with preliminary data suggesting a positive trend in treatment-seeking behaviors.
  • High-risk LGAs were identified based on ACS presentations, cardiac arrest incidence, and ACS knowledge surveys.
  • The trial included diverse demographic engagement strategies and educational materials tailored to local communities, with initial feedback indicating increased community engagement.
Interpretation:

Targeting high-risk communities with tailored educational interventions may enhance ACS knowledge and EMS utilization, potentially improving clinical outcomes and informing future public health strategies.

Limitations:
  • Hospital-based research was not feasible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may limit the generalizability of findings.
  • Changes from the original trial protocol may affect data collection and outcomes, introducing potential biases.
Conclusion:

The study highlights the importance of community-specific education in improving ACS awareness and EMS response in high-risk areas, underscoring the need for sustained educational efforts.

Original Source(s)

Education on Heart Attack and Emergency Medical Services Response in Areas with High Risk and Low EMS Utilization: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomized Study

  • by Janet E. Bray, Ziad Nehme, Judith C. Finn, Jessica Kasza, Janelle Woods, Robyn A. Clark, Dion Stub, Dominique A. Cadilhac, Joosup Kim, Ben J. Smith, Susie Cartledge, Alison Beauchamp, Rhys Bowden, Natasha Dodge, Elizabeth Flemming-Judge, Clara Chow, Nicholas Cox, William van Gaal, Voltaire Nadurata, Peter Cameron, Heart Matters Investigators, Karen Smith, Tony Walker, Adam J Stormont, Amanda K Buttery , Roni Beauchamp, Erin R Bowen, Roslyn Cochrane, James Nigro, Donna N Koik, Alicja T Najbar-Kaszkiel, Nousa Sooriah, Anita Sterling, Georgie Ockenden, Elizabeth Cerini, Kelly E Donnelly, Jesse D Lewis, Ararso Olani, Kelly-Ann Jolly

  • April 27, 2026

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