Stroke prevention and recovery DVDs go live
30 NOVEMBER 2006
World First: Observational learning stroke prevention and recovery DVDs go live
Help is at hand for the 7000 New Zealanders who suffer a stroke each year and for the 40,000 New Zealanders who have previously had a stroke, with the release of an easily understood DVD set, offering educational and training materials both for preventing strokes, and caring for those who have suffered one.
The Ultimate Video Guide to Stroke Prevention and Recovery is a set of three DVDs authored by Professor Valery Feigin, a neurologist who is regarded internationally as a leading expert on the disease. and is the founder of recently established Stroke Educational Ltd in Auckland.
Strokes are the number two killer in the world, but Dr Feigin, who has drawn on his 20 years of practical experience in stroke medicine and research into the causes and effects of the destructive brain disease to write the book, says 85% of strokes are preventable.
A quarter of all strokes occur in people under 60 years of age. The estimated costs of the disease worldwide are about $400 billion a year, says Dr Feigin.
"Recent research forecasts a pronounced increase in the numbers of New Zealanders suffering a stroke in the future, as a result of an aging population and higher survival rates."
Dr Feigin worked for several years at the Mayo Clinic in the United States, and has been nominated as a Visiting Professor at the clinic. He is the author of many scientific articles on various aspects of stroke, including a number of guidelines and textbooks for doctors and medical students and the general population.
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The DVDs have been endorsed by the World Stroke Federation and the World Federation for NeuroRehabilitation (the only stroke educational video endorsed by these two world-leading stroke/rehab organisations), and cover virtually all aspects of stroke from understanding what stroke is and how to avoid it, to the consequences of stroke. The DVDs provide practical recommendations and procedures on what to do to improve recovery and reduce stroke impact on stroke survivors, their families and caregivers.
The unique feature of the DVDs is that most of the educational and training procedures are presented by stroke survivors (including Maori and Pacific Islanders) and their family caregivers (observational learning theory).
"Stroke survivors will see that they are not alone and if others can do it, they can too. A further feature is that they provide medically accurate and easy-to-follow, step-by-step educational and training information for stroke survivors and their families," says Dr Feigin. "Over 35 rehabilitation procedures are shown including feeding, massage, physical exercises, bathing and walking. These procedures can be used at home or any other facility by people who have no special medical background but who are caring for their families."
All training procedures are accompanied by easy to understand explanations from health professionals. The stroke training in the DVDs provides carers with comprehensive instructions on how to care for a stroke person and carry out rehabilitation exercises correctly. Dr Feigin says The Ultimate Video Guide to Stroke Prevention and Recovery will be equally useful for stroke sufferers and their families, and for medical professionals caring for them.
A set of three DVDs The Ultimate Video Guide to Stroke Prevention and Recovery (total duration 6 hours) by Dr Valery Feigin (published by Stroke Education Ltd, $156) can be purchased on-line at www.stroke-education.com or by faxing an order to (09) 6367062.
ENDS