Background: Good knowledge regarding stroke can lead to the identification of stroke symptoms and signs which could result in early management within the right time. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of stroke risk factors and stroke warning signs in medical students in King Faisal University.
Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia. A predetermined questionnaire was distributed among 515 medical students of King Faisal University, using online platform from September 2019 to February 2020.
Results: Stroke awareness questionnaire (SAQ) was used, and 88.7% and 88.2% correctly identified two or more risk factors and symptoms of stroke, respectively. The knowledge of the medical students regarding the correct meaning of stroke was poor (36.7%); however, the knowledge of the true meaning of transient ischemic attacked was high (69.3%). In multivariate regression model, being females and involvement to stroke awareness campaigns was the independent significant predictor of the decreased knowledge, whereas the first year
and second year levels were the independent significant predictors of increased knowledge toward the risk factors and symptoms of stroke.
Conclusion: The knowledge of medical students toward the risk factors and symptoms of stroke was moderately high. Among the academic year levels, the first and second year levels were more associated with increased knowledge level toward the risk factors and symptoms of stroke
Key words: Stroke, SAQ, knowledge, risk factors, symptoms, medical students
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