Brussels, 1st November 2018 – The eLearning Module 5 of the Stroke Support Organisation Faculty Tool (SSOFT) is published today at the following address www.ssoft.info.
SSOFT’s fifth module focuses on health and care systems and how to influence key decision makers within them to make positive changes around stroke prevention, care and treatment. The module is broken down in to seven bite-size sections, which covers:
5.1 – Health & care systems
5.2 – Influencing health & care systems
5.3 – How decisions are made and who makes those decisions
5.4 – The impact of guidelines within the health & care systems
5.5 – Identifying existing evidence
5.6 – Using case studies and data
5.7 – Life after stroke
In Module 5, using a combination of theory and practice, SSOFT demonstrates how to gain an understanding of existing health and care systems, allowing the identification of where key decisions are happening and who is making them. Through a better understanding of these systems Stroke Support Organisations (SSOs) can work with the key decision makers to advocate for improved stroke care, treatment and long term support. This can be achieved by using existing evidence and data, as well as the voices of stroke survivors.
SSOs have been at the heart of the development of this tool. For newer or smaller organisations, the information in the tool will provide knowledge that will help them to build and grow. For larger organisations, SSOFT will enable them to support their communities and other stroke professionals across Europe as they grow their communities and add more voices to their movement/arguments for change.
This tool is also for anyone who is interested in knowing more about what an SSO is, how to start and develop one and how to make it sustainable.
For those interested in using this innovative eLearning platform we would encourage them to visit the SSOFT website www.ssoft.info
About SSOFT
SSOFT is an innovative online eLearning advocacy tool being developed by Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE), in partnership with the European Stroke Organisation (ESO).
This online learning platform provides knowledge and training on how the creation of effective advocacy activities and campaigns to deliver positive change at a local and national level on stroke prevention, treatment and care. The eLearning platform will include six modules that provide information on:
Module 1: Stroke Support Organisations (SSOs)
Module 2: Making Change Happen
Module 3: Use of Evidence
Module 4: Role of Patient Voice
Module 5: Health & Care System Advocacy
Module 6: Public Advocacy
The modules and learning environment is accessible via the SSOFT website through a simple registration process. Visitors to the website can also learn more about SSOFT, SAFE and ESO, find their nearest SAFE Stroke Support Organisation (SSO) as well as hear from SAFE members about their experiences.
For more information, please send an email ssoft@safestroke.eu or visit www.ssoft.info
Acknowledgments
SAFE would like to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the contributions made by those who have helped in the development of SSOFT and module 5.
- Stroke Alliance for Europe Board, who have been involved at every stage of development of this module.
- The Peer Reviewers for module 5:
- Stiftung Deutsche Schlaganfall-Hilfe (Dr Markus Wagner)
- Hellenic Alliance/Action for Stroke Support Organization (Dr Hariklia Proios)
- Australian Stroke Association (Ms Sharon McGowan)
- Experience, Participation and Equalities, NHS England (Dr Neil Churchill)
- Our members who have shared their experiences and knowledge in the video interviews used within the module:
- Francesca Romana Pezzella – ALICe, Italy
- Markus Wagner – Stiftung Deutsche Schlaganfall-Hilfe, Germany
- Jon Barrick – Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE)
- Monique Lindhout – Hersenletsel, Netherlands
- Adam Siger – Fundacja Udaru Mózgu, Poland
- Hrvoje Jurlina – HDPMU Croatian Stroke Society, Croatia
- Our member and partner organisations who have collaborated in the development of the module content:
- World Stroke Organization
- European Stroke Organisation.
- And all those who participated in the User Acceptance Testing of module 5.
We would also like to thank the project sponsor Bayer Healthcare who have supported this project through an education grant.
About SAFE
The Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE) a non-profit-making organisation formed in 2004. It is the voice of stroke patients in Europe, representing a range of patient groups from 30 European countries.
SAFE’s goal is to decrease the number of strokes in Europe by advocating for better prevention, access to adequate treatment, post-stroke care and rehabilitation.
For more information about SAFE, please visit www.safestroke.eu
