Popular knowledge of stroke in São Paulo: a cross-sectional study within the World Stroke Campaign

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Stroke is the second leading cause of death in Brazil and the main cause of disability. Inability to identify alarm signals causes delays in seeking emergency services, thereby leading to a worse prognosis. OBJECTIVES: To assess the population's knowledge of how to recognize and prevent stroke. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective cross-sectional study on data derived from a questionnaire that was administered during the 2016 World Stroke Campaign, launched in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Data on 806 interviewees were evaluated using descriptive statistics and univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Among all the interviewees, 52.1% knew how to conceptualize stroke; 70.07% knew someone who had suffered a stroke; and 29.03% listed three or more risk factors. Only 27.5% mentioned controlling high blood pressure as a preventive measure. In the event of witnessing a stroke, 57.8% would call the emergency service and 2.9% would check the timing. Less educated individuals were 5.6 times more likely (95% confidence interval, CI 3.45-9.02) to have poor knowledge of stroke, compared with the more educated group. Knowing someone who had had a stroke reduced the chances of not knowing the terms relating to the disease (odds ratio, OR = 0.56; 95% CI 0.4-0.78). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the severity and prevalence of stroke, the population still has little information on this disease. In this context, the importance of mounting campaigns to improve prevention and treatment and to contribute to healthcare policies becomes evident.

Stroke awareness in a Brazilian Northeastern capital city and the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Several studies [9][10][11][12] have shown the effectiveness of stroke awareness campaigns regarding the detection of stroke signs and the intention to call emergency medical services. A Brazilian prospective cross-sectional study 13 conducted in the context of the World Stroke Campaign in 2016 showed that 47.9% of the participants did not know how to define stroke, only 18.1% listed three or more stroke symptoms, and 29.03% listed three or more risk factors. This study 13 also showed that people with low levels of schooling (incomplete Elementary School) were 6.1 times more likely to have poor knowledge.…”

Different words for stroke: the same concept? an analysis of associated symptoms and intended reaction in Brazil

“…Some Brazilian studies recognized “derrame” [ 8 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 15 ] as a common alternative name for stroke. Indeed it is widely used in lay media [ 14 ].…”

“…Knowledge about other symptoms related to stroke was poor, however similar to another study that applied a strategy similar [ 10 ] to ours (the main cited symptoms were headache and cognition problems, both by 8.1% of their sample). In general, the most common signs and symptoms cited in Brazilian studies applying an open-ended approach [ 12 , 13 , 17 , 18 ] are motor (facial drop and/or hemiplegia), language impairment, headache and paresthesia, with a frequency around 30 − 20%. This frequency was similar in developed countries [ 7 , 19 , 20 ].…”

“…Interviewers were trained medical undergraduate students. They approached passers-by in high-flow public spaces, such as squares, bus/subway stations, and street markets (similar to previous studies [ 8 , 12 , 13 ]), of pre-determined cities and invited those individuals to enroll in the study, configuring a quasi-random sample. The answers were completely spontaneous without any suggestion or interference from the interviewers.…”

Awareness towards stroke among high school students in Brazil: a cross-sectional study

“…Based on this assumption, it is therefore imperative that the population should possess knowledge concerning stroke; be able to recognize the risk factors, signs and symptoms; and be aware of preventive measures for this condition, as well as the correct conduct when faced with a stroke. 5 With this in mind, it can be understood that this knowledge is important for the young population, since many of these individuals, after leaving high school, will take up jobs in places with large gatherings of people, such as shopping malls, airports or parks. They should therefore be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke, so that the emergency services can be called.…”