Background: Stroke is a major health problem in India; however, only few studies are available to assess the knowledge of stroke in the developing nations.
Objective: To assess the awareness level of stroke risk factors and response to stroke symptoms among stroke patients attending a tertiary-care center in Rajasthan.
Materials and Methods: It was a prospective tertiary-level hospital-based study. We interviewed the awareness level of stroke risk factors and response to stroke symptoms among stroke patients. Statistical analysis was done using R-package.
Result: A total 524 patients were surveyed. The mean age of subjects was 57.5 ± 15.8 years. There were 63% male and 37% female patients. The mean duration within which patients reported to hospital was 26 h, and the mean distance from the residence to hospital was 66 km. The level of education was up to 10th standard in 61.5% subjects. Hypertension (38%), diabetes mellitus (34.4%), and smoking (29%) were identified as major risk factors for stroke among subjects. Primary care was taken by 12.8% before coming to the hospital. Only 2% patients were aware of thrombolysis.
Conclusion: Because the knowledge about stroke was poor, the subjects in this study were largely unaware of risk factors for stroke and availability of thrombolysis. Thus, intensive health education and health infrastructure are needed to improve awareness of stroke and promote earlier access to hospital and knowledge about availability of thrombolysis.
Key words: stroke, awareness, knowledge,
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