Development of a specific stroke awareness tool for the Haitian community

Bibliographic Data

ID19591271
AuthorsJude Hassan Charles (0000-0001-5955-3185, Jackson Health System), Leila Stewart, L M Stewart (Jackson Health System), Emmanuel Gay (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), Selina Ancheta (0009-0007-4350-6908, Jackson Health System), Karelle Spence (0009-0006-1426-8843, Jackson Health System), Carolina M Gutierrez (0000-0002-9879-3912, University of Miami), Valynncea Butler (University of Miami), Christina Ampie (0009-0008-8505-1515, University of Miami), Erika Marulanda (0000-0002-3885-1770, University of Miami), Nicole Sur, Nicole B Sur (0000-0002-3541-3599, University of Miami), Negar Asdaghi (0000-0002-0285-825X, University of Miami), Hannah Gardener (0000-0003-1416-632X, University of Miami), Tatjana Rundek (0000-0002-7115-9815, University of Miami), Jose G Romano (0000-0003-3667-2792, University of Miami), Gillian L Gordon Perue (0000-0002-3991-3179, University of Miami)
EditorsMegan Coffee (0000-0002-4581-111X)
Year2025
Volume5
Issue12
Pagese0005519
Publication date2025-12-11
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0005519
PMID41379809
OpenAlexW4417297265
LanguageEN
References cited13

While stroke awareness tools are available in English and Spanish, none specifically serve the substantial Haitian population in the United States. To fill this gap, the Florida Stroke Registry (FSR) Education Core collaborated with Haitian Creole–speaking healthcare professionals and community members to create a stroke awareness tool tailored for the Haitian Creole community. This initiative led to the development of two candidate translations for the BE-FAST acronym (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time), a validated tool proven to improve patient outcomes by enabling earlier hospital presentation. An anonymous online survey was conducted across Florida, targeting healthcare professionals such as physicians, nurses, stroke coordinators, and rehabilitation specialists. Participants compared two proposed Haitian Creole translations of BE-FAST—FEL VIT and FE VIT—and evaluated their effectiveness and ability to communicate the urgency of seeking medical attention. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, proportions with 95% confidence intervals, and chi-square testing for group differences. Among 46 survey respondents, 53% were women, and 41% were fluent in Haitian Creole. The professional breakdown was 56% physicians, 10% nurses, 20% stroke coordinators, and 13% rehabilitation specialists. Most participants (93%) agreed that a Haitian Creole stroke awareness tool would benefit their communities. FEL VIT (FIGI [face], EKILIB [equilibrium], LANGAJ [language/speech], VIZYON [vision/eye], IMOBILITE [immobility], TAN/TELEFON [time/call]) was selected as the preferred translation, with 46.7% favoring it over FE VIT (31.1%). FEL VIT was also rated highest for conveying the urgency needed for rapid hospital presentation following stroke symptoms (48.8% vs. 27.9%). Through collaboration across disciplines and cultures, the FSR successfully introduced FEL VIT, a Haitian Creole adaptation of BE-FAST, which was favored by stakeholders and is ready for implementation in community stroke awareness campaigns

Health care · Health professionals · Patient education · Population · Acute Ischemic Stroke Management · Spatial Neglect and Hemispheric Dysfunction · Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery · Rehabilitation

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