A population‐based study on awareness of stroke in Turkey

Abstract

Stroke is the second most common cause of mortality and a major cause of long-term disability of adults in most countries. This study was performed to determine the level of knowledge and awareness regarding risk factors and warning signs of stroke in a selected sample. This cross-sectional study was carried out in Aydin between November and December 2005, utilizing a study sample of 920 people registered at urban health centers. The questionnaire, prepared by the investigators, was administered by 20 trained students utilizing face-to-face interviews at participants' homes. Two-thirds of the participants knew the organ effected by stroke. The participants reported that stroke was a consequence of occlusion (28.0%) or bleeding (18.0%) in brain arteries. Paralysis/weakness of one side of the body (37.1%), speech impairment (26.8%) and numbness of one side of the body (14.2%) were reported as three major stroke warning signs. Sixty-four percent of the participants knew at least one of these risk factors. Their primary sources of information were family and friends. Our study showed the great need for increasing awareness of risk factors and warning signs for stroke, perhaps utilizing community based education programs and the mass media.

Stroke and the emergency medical services – enhancing performance within the chain of survival

“…However, less than one third of the general public can come up with more than two symptoms or risk factors and even fewer are considered to have an adequate knowledge of stroke or TIA. Similar results have been reported throughout the United States and across Europe and Asia (Kothari et al 1997, Pancioli et al 1998, Yoon et al 2001, Reeves et al 2002, Greenlund et al 2003, Parahoo et al 2003, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2004, Ferris et al 2005, Müller-Nordhorn et al 2006, Nedeltchev et al 2007, Evci et al 2007, Mikulík et al 2008. Women have been found to have a better overall symptom awareness and knowledge of risk factors than men (Ferris et al 2005).…”

“…General practitioners and other licensed health care workers were named by only 8-22% of the respondents. (Pancioli et al 1998, Parahoo et al 2003, Evci et al 2007) The sources of information have also varied considerably between different age groups and study settings. (Müller-Nordhorn et al 2006) The most commonly mentioned warning symptoms in these surveys have been…”

Can the UK guidelines for stroke be effective? Attitudes to the symptoms of a transient ischaemic attack among the general public and doctors

“…15 Although previous studies have suggested that women, 6,8,10,12,13 and either young 10,13,16 or middle aged 12,14 patients have better knowledge and awareness of TIA and stroke the present study showed no sex or age-related differences in the responses obtained. Other reports have also highlighted that awareness of cerebrovascular disease is better in those with higher levels of education 6,8,[10][11][12]14,16,17 and higher income. 8,16,17 In this study 65% of respondents were socioeconomic class I and II and would be expected to be more knowledgeable suggesting that for the wider population appropriate responses to TIA are even less likely.…”

Stroke warning signs and awareness of risk factors in high-school teachers

“…Ancak ülkemizde hala gerek toplumda gerek sağlık profesyonelleri arasında tedavisi mümkün olmayan bir hastalık olarak algılanmaktadır (10,20).…”

“…İnme risk faktörlerinin farkındalığı inmeyi önlemede, inme alarm belirtileri farkındalığı ise acil tedaviye erişimde (4), akut inmede potansiyel tedavi seçeneklerinin arttırılmasında (revaskülarizasyon tedaviler; trombolitik ve mekanik trombektomi) ve inme sonrası daha iyi sonuçlar sağlamasında çok önemlidir (6,20,21,22,23,24,25).…”