Awareness of stroke among patients with stroke in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Stroke awareness is known to affect health seeking and risk reduction behavior. We assessed stroke awareness among patients with stroke. DESIGN: CASE CONTROL STUDY. Setting: University Medical Unit-Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama. METHODS: All consenting patients admitted with stroke over a one-year period, and age and sex matched controls, were assessed for awareness of disease mechanisms, symptomatology, risk factors, treatment, emergency response and prevention. Awareness of stroke was categorized using a composite score- Statistical analysis was done using chi square and t-tests. RESULTS: Eighty patients and 78 controls were studied. Awareness was inadequate ('poor' or 'very poor') in 63.8% of patients and 56.4% of controls, and was rated 'very good' in only two patients and none of the controls. Awareness was inadequate especially regarding risk factors, available treatment options and preventive methods. Mean awareness score was not different between patients and controls (18.38 vs. 18.91; p>0.05). Awareness was better in the younger patients. Doctors (73.6%) and television (36.5%) were the main sources ol knowledge, and other health care workers (15.1%), radio (8.8%) and health educational materials (12.6%) had little impact. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke awareness was inadequate among patients with stroke, and was not better than controls.