1. West GTA Stroke Network Community Stroke Fair
Arlene – Dana and I were asked to come and speak to you today regarding the Community Stroke Fair that was held last June. My name is Arlene and I work as a Physiotherapist in the Out Patient Neuro clinic at Trillium Health Partners and Dana is one of the Community Stroke Navigators.
**In this presentation we will outline the processes involved in the development and execution of the stroke fair that was held in the West GTA Region last spring.
We will also review lessons learned for future opportunities.

2. Canadian Stroke Best Practice Education Recommendations
“education is an integral part of stroke care that must be addressed at all stages and settings across the continuum of stroke care” (Cameron et al. 2015, p. 812)
Arlene
Canadian Best Practice states that education needs to be addressed at all stages and settings across the continuum of care. As health care professionals we know education is provided, yet how often do we hear the client reporting that they were not given any information. Research has shown that less than 25% of the education provided in hospital is retained post discharge. Jill Cameron’s research states that it is essential for stroke survivors to receive education at the right time. The right time varies patient to patient and often patients report feeling overwhelmed and inundated with information during the acute care phase of their recovery. Therefore Best practice outlines that it is crucial for ongoing education throughout the continuum of stroke recovery.

3. Environmental Scan
No community based stroke specific educational programs available to stroke survivors and their families within the West GTA region especially for patients who are no longer in the system. e.g. Chronic strokes
Arlene:
Another group that requires ongoing education are the chronic stroke survivors who are no longer part of the “system”, Accessing linkages can be very challenging for these individuals.
Therefore the West GTA Stroke Network Community and Long Term Committee identified the need for community outreach in our region to ensure that educational programs are available to the stroke survivors in the community.

4. Project Goal
To provide stroke survivors living in the community with a quarterly Stroke Education Fair that will allow them to obtain stroke specific education that is relevant to their needs.
Arlene:
The project’s goal was simple…to provide access to direct education and linkages to stroke survivors living in the community.

5. Process Review of Existing Models Model design Marketing Strategy
Stroke survivors/families surveyed
Review of Existing Models
Model design
Marketing Strategy
Evaluation
Small adjustments to existing model
Arlene:
Over a hundred stroke survivors and their family members were surveyed and the results all suggested there was a definite need. Stroke survivors in the community were accessed through the Central West LHIN Stroke exercise program, the Community Aphasia programs, through the Community Stroke Navigators
To help initiate the development on the fair a committee member went to Providence Health Care Centre where they also have a stroke fair for their patients – this provided an opportunity to assess and learn from their patient education model.
The committee than development a model to suit the needs of the stroke survivors in this area.
The model included a general education session i.e. stroke 101 and interdisciplinary booths that survivors could visit and have a 1:1 conversation with the discipline specific professional.
To communicate the event flyers were sent to the Comprehensive Stroke Unit, the Out Patient Neuro Rehab department, the Stroke Prevention Clinic as well as many community partner groups including the previously mentioned groups.
Dana will now go into further detail regarding the format.

6. Format of the Fair Timing = 2 hours
Included a 20 minute Stroke 101 lecture
Individual booths with professional staff
Evaluations
Dana
The event occurred on June 29th from at the Mississauga Valley Community Center. The event was marketed at Trillium Health Partners Outpatient department/Stroke prevention clinic, the Peel stroke survivors support group and supportive communication groups in the West GTA Stroke Network.
The event was two hours long and consisted of two components which include a lecture portion and booth displays. The lecture lasted 20 minutes was provided by a Stroke Prevention Clinic nurse and was titled “Stroke 101”. The “Stroke 101” lecture was based on the Taking Action for Optimal Community and Long Term Stroke Care resource by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The lecture outlined what is a stroke, the warning signs of a stroke and stroke risk factors. For the reminder of the fair, the stroke survivors had the opportunity to visit booths manned by health care professionals and ask questions. The health care professionals and community partners volunteered their time at the event.
Booth participants consisted of two Physical Therapists one from the Out Patient Neuro Rehab program at Trillium and one from the community. Two Occupational Therapists from the community. Two SLP’s both from community agencies. An OT from St. Elizabeth’s functional driving assessment center was in attendance. We were also able to obtain access to a pharmacist from the comprehensive stroke unit at Trillium – the group felt he would be most appropriate as he would most likely be familiar with most stroke related medications. Nursing and Stroke Navigators were provided by the West GTA Stroke Network and March of Dimes was present to offer valuable information on their partnerships and programs.
Booth participants attended a teleconference prior to the event where the day was outlined, and instructions were provided particularly on the idea that they were not there to treat specific issues but rather help navigate participants to the most relevant provider that could meet their specific needs.

7. Results Participants had immediate information and direct contacts
Professional networking
All of the health care professionals would recommend the event to a stroke survivor and would volunteer at the event again
Other regions expressing interest
Dana:
Over and over again the feedback from participants attending the day was that they were so impressed that they were able to speak directly to a professional who could address their questions.
A stroke survivor with aphasia told us the story that she really wanted to get back to driving but continued to have issues making arrangements due to her aphasia. On the day of the fair the stroke survivor spoke directly to an OT from St. Elizabeth's, arrangements were made and she was able to get her license back very quickly after being connected to St. Elizabeth's at the fair.
100% of the participants felt that the resources provided by the West GTA stroke network were useful. 80% of the participants felt that the event length was just right (20% felt that it was slightly too short).
A great unexpected outcome that came from the booth presenters was that they loved the opportunity to network and speak with other professionals in the region. As well 60% of the providers at the event felt that they learned about at least one additional community resource as a result of the event.
The Mississauga Fair was run as a region specific pilot event, the Central West LHIN has now expressed interested to run a fair in their region with the assistance of the West GTA Stroke Network. As well the West GTA Stroke Network has been contacted by other stroke regions to share the information regarding the fair with the hopes of running an event in their area.

8. Lessons Learned Advertising Registration
Contact info/partnering with self-management group
Location and accessibility
Date
Additional booth presenters
Stroke 101 timing
Dana:
As is the case with any first time event several opportunities arose to make changes in the future if the fair is to run again. These include:
-advertising could have been expanded to local papers, or forms of media
-having participants register for the event would help for planning purposes
No contact information was provided in advertising and it was felt by participants there was no one to contact regarding questions, next time a contact number could easily be provided. The group wondered if perhaps partnering with a health self-management group like the March of Dimes may be the answer to continued running and success of the fair?
Location – we chose a central Mississauga community center for the fair thinking it was central and easily accessible with no fee for parking. However, the center was very busy and there were elevators necessary to get to the room of the event etc., It was perhaps a little overwhelming.
Date – the fair was held on the last day of school and we wondered if this impacted how many family members/care partners were able to attend with the stroke survivor or bring their stroke survivor (the whole sandwich generation thing).
Additional Presenters - We had asked and planned for the Recreation and Parks to attend the event and be able to complete applications on site, unfortunately they were unable to attend that day but would be a community partner we would love to have confirmed at future events. Other regions may have other booth presenters to target as well.
Stroke 101 – Originally we planned to have the Stroke 101 session at the beginning of the program however, by accident it was delayed to the middle of the two hours. This actually worked really well as early birds were able to visit booths have the presentation and leave and late comers were able to catch the education session then visit booths. This allowed for little to no line ups at booths and everyone got to see the stroke 101 presentation which, all agreed was a highlight of the event.