Abstract DP184: Stroke Detectives Get a Clue: An Innovative Approach to Interactive Community Stroke Education with School Age Children

Background: Early stroke recognition and risk factor awareness are critical for improving patient outcomes, yet educational outreach to school-age populations remains underutilized. The Stroke Detective Program was developed as an innovative, gamified educational intervention to teach stroke symptom recognition and modifiable risk factors to children in an engaging, memorable format. Methods: The program is delivered as an immersive, narrative-based activity in which participants become rookie investigators at the “Localization Station: Major Brain Crimes Unit.” Instruction begins with an interactive briefing on stroke recognition using the BEFAST mnemonic and a brief neuroanatomy session featuring a preserved human brain specimen. Students are then presented with a simulated “brain attack” case involving a fictional character named Professor Axon Dendrite from the local Myelin University. Participants are taught about a variety of stroke risk factors as “suspects” in the case. The prime suspects, collectively referred to as “The Big 5 Crew,” represent the five most prevalent modifiable stroke risk factors: hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and smoking. Participants review fictional evidence, identify associated risk factors, and link clinical symptoms to affected brain regions to “solve” the case. Results: Preliminary program delivery to multiple groups of elementary age children demonstrated high engagement, with informal feedback indicating improved symptom recognition and understanding of risk factors. Knowledge retention assessments and pre/post surveys will be utilized to quantify the impact of future events. Conclusion: The Stroke Detective Program integrates gamification, experiential learning, and narrative storytelling to deliver impactful stroke education to children. This approach has the potential to increase community stroke literacy, promote healthy lifestyle awareness from an early age, and empower youth to act as stroke recognition advocates within their families and communities.