Background: Stroke is a life-threatening condition that requires prompt and aggressive intervention. However, early treatment is mainly dependent on the communitys awareness related to the benefits of early stroke intervention. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the awareness level of Qassim residents toward stroke symptoms, its causes, treatment, and complications.
Methodology: The data were collected using a web-based survey distributed to Qassim residents in Saudi Arabia. A validated questionnaire including 25 questions was used to assess the stroke awareness.
Results: It was found that 39.5% of the participants were aged between 21 and 30 years. Out of the total, 68.5% were female. Only 1% had a previous stroke, whereas 66% of them had it once, 66% received early treatment, and 38% suffered from stroke complications. As for the full cohort, 20.8% had a family history of stroke. As for knowledge about early treatment, 76.2% believed that early stroke treatment reduces complications and death, while 56.6% knew that delaying treatment for more than 3 hours increases the risk of complications and death. Age group older than 41 years (p < 0.001), females (p < 0.001), non-Saudi (p < 0.001), divorced (p = 0.034), and having a postgraduate degree (p < 0.001) had a significantly higher awareness level about stroke symptoms, etiology, and treatment compared to other respondents.
Conclusion: The awareness level about stroke among the public living in Qassim, Saudi Arabia, was unsatisfactory. Further studies in other regions of Saudi Arabia are required.
Key words: Stroke, awareness; risk factors, warning symptoms, acute management, prevention
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