Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Stroke Organisation Conference 2025

Love Your Brain digital platform - Information to prevent stroke (122551)

Monique F Kilkenny 1 2 , Rosanne Freak-Poli 1 3 , Catherine Burns 1 , Seana L Gall 4 , Christine Farmer 4 , Seamus Barker 4 , Brenda Booth 5 , Janet E Bray 3 , Dominique A. Cadilhac 1 2 , Jan Cameron 1 , Lachlan L Dalli 1 , Steph Ho 6 , Eleanor Horton 6 , Timothy Kleinig 7 , Lisa Murphy 6 , Mark Nelson 4 , Muideen T Olaiya 1 , Amanda G Thrift 1 , Tara Purvis 1
  1. Monash University, Clayton, VICTORIA, Australia
  2. Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  3. School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  4. Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
  5. Australian Stroke Coalition, Melbourne, VICTORIA, Australia
  6. Stroke Foundation, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  7. University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Background: Most people have at least one risk factor for stroke. There are gaps in population-based strategies for preventing stroke.

Aims: We aimed to co-design a novel, multi-component digital health platform (Love Your Brain) for stroke prevention. 

Methods: We purposively selected (via snowballing methods) two Australian cohorts: community members and health knowledge experts (clinicians/researchers). Seven online focus groups were undertaken per cohort to explore perceptions of the proposed platform content, functions, features and delivery. An eighth focus group was conducted to evaluate the developed platform and receive feedback on the co-design process. Focus groups were recorded (following consent). Facilitated group discussions were analysed using an inductive thematic approach.

Results: Participants (12 community members, 10 experts) attended at least one of the eight focus groups for their cohort. While there was some diversity in opinions about the delivery and content, all emphasised the importance of using simple, easy-to-understand language and layout and personal experiences to “tell a story”. Demonstrating the impact of stroke; being able to personalise the content (age, gender, risk factors); and providing options for more information via trusted links was advantageous. Practical advice to enact behaviour change was also essential. The developed platform was described as professional, comprehensive and easy to digest. Participants described feeling “heard” during the co-design process and appreciated how their input was incorporated.

Conclusion: Co-design with separate cohorts informed and enriched the development of the Love Your Brain digital health platform. The fully-powered randomised controlled trial commenced in February 2025.