Globalising stroke education
Case study: Developing the World Stroke Academy to raise standards of stroke education and care worldwide
Published: 16 Nov 2011
The WSA seeks to standardise stroke education on a global scale.
Client: World Stroke Organization, founding sponsor
Agency: infill healthcare communication
Campaign: World Stroke Academy, global CME
Timescale: Launched in September 2009, on-going
A quick look
Stroke knowledge and standards of care vary tremendously around the world. Approached by BI who became the founding sponsor, infill developed the World Stroke Academy (WSA) together with the World Stroke Organization. The WSA provides high-level, online CME learning as well as regional educational meetings. It is freely accessible, acceptable to stroke professionals, suited to an international audience, led by a highly renowned steering committee and funded by grants from the industry. This unique cooperation will raise standards of stroke education and care worldwide.
Challenge
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the US and a leading cause of long-term disability. Diagnostic imaging and effective acute and preventative treatment is widely available, guidelines are in place, and the benefit of stroke networks and stroke centres has been confirmed. However, stroke care still varies considerably across the globe. Boehringer Ingelheim, with its strong background in stroke, felt that the time had come to do more to further communication and benefit the stroke community as a whole.
But, how can a pharmaceutical company provide a global educational concept in a specific indication, with CME accreditation, increase and improve education about the indication in all regions of the world, and at the same time, shape the market, improve relations with opinion leaders, and gain credibility with physicians?
Solution
infill developed a society-led campaign together with the World Stroke Organization (WSO), creating a community in which stroke education and guideline- and evidence-based practice information could be propagated on an international level.
With Boehringer Ingelheim as the founding sponsor, the World Stroke Academy (WSA) was launched in September 2009. The WSA is an umbrella concept for the provision of stroke education and information, with the contents based around a website, www.world-stroke-academy.org, and regional educational meetings. Professors Michael Brainin and Stephen Davis co-chair a well-renowned steering committee of international experts, who are responsible for the contents, and infill ensures that these are didactically prepared and attractive, in order to optimise and enhance the learning experience.
The website is divided into two areas. Patients and carers have access to a wide range of information on stroke, which has been supplied through a special licensing agreement with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA). The main area of the WSA website is an online learning platform for healthcare professionals, with an internet-based learning management system, CME learning modules and a personal desktop with interactive features.
Results
- The website already has over 7,000 users, with further plans for promotion in 2011
- Two regional CME meetings have been held in Athens and Seoul. The next is planned in Sri Lanka to tie in with the Asian Pacific Stroke Congress later this year
- Several learning modules have been published and an extensive publication plan has been prepared for 2011
- Over 700 users have completed at least one learning module
- Funding is provided by Boehringer Ingelheim and Allergan, and new sponsors are welcome
- The European Stroke Organisation has also agreed to support WSA activities.
Client verdict
The WSA represents a unique cooperation between societies and the pharmaceutical industry to update and standardise stroke education on a global scale.
"This educational campaign of the WSO probably amounts to the largest single professional educational campaign ever to promote the essentials of stroke care."
WSO Education Committee Report 2009
"Congratulations on this fine achievement, which is impressive indeed… the first launch presentations (were) well received with much interest… I have read the docs which are really superb, very well constructed."
Bo Norrving, President WSO