Early hospital arrival after stroke onset increases access to proven treatments and improves outcomes. In addition to knowledge and recognition of stroke symptoms, misperceptions, mistrust, fears, cultural norms, and financial concerns may influence early hospital arrival after stroke symptom onset. Previous stroke education campaigns have focused on improving knowledge but ignored these other decision factors. We hypothesized that a community-engaged stroke preparedness intervention to overcome these barriers would increase early hospital arrival and use of emergency medical services (EMS; ie, calling 911 followed by paramedic evaluation, treatment, and ambulance transport to the hospital) after stroke symptom onset in areas at high risk for stroke in Chicago, Illinois.
