Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 39 No. 4, 2000.
Conference paper
Knowledge about Stroke among Non-Stroke Patients
Krystyna Jaracz
Malgorzata Wiszniewska
Anna Czlonkowska
Wojciech Kozubski
Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the knowledge among patients at non-neurologic wards about the risk factors for stroke, warning signs, and initial actions that must be taken when a stroke occurs. Data were collected from 75 inpatients suffering from a range of diseases, mean age 49.57±14.87 years. Study subjects were asked to fill in a standardized questionnaire containing 46 questions subdivided into two sections. The answers concerning warning symptoms, risk factors, causes of stroke, and initial action were quasi-quantified according to an arbitrary scoring system. Of 75 patients, only 5.3% were not aware of any medical risk factor, and 12% were not aware of any warning signals. On the other hand, only 2.6% and 10.66% of subjects listed correctly all risk factors and warning signs, respectively. Anyhow, many patients gave wrong answers. Most respondents (89.54%) would choose a desirable action if stroke was suspected. The scores for knowledge about stroke were better among higher educated respondents and among women. The factors such as belonging to a high-risk group for stroke, age, and other characteristics did not influence the score. Family, friends, and mass media provided major sources of the patients’ knowledge. It is concluded that, despite the fact that the respondents knew a lot about stroke, the nature of stroke and the problems involved often caused confusion or misunderstanding. Further public education is needed to increase the awareness of the warning signals and risk factors, especially among patients who are at an increased risk of stroke.
Keywords
Cerebrovascular disorders, prevention and control; Knowledge; Awareness; Attitudes; Population; Surveillance
Hrčak ID:
14988
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2000.
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