Stroke Prevention Awareness And Treatment Knowledge Among Patients' Relatives

BACKGROUND: Recent research indicates that if a stroke can be effectively treated within three hours, prognosis is improved. Therefore. it is necessary to properly educate stroke Patients' relatives about prevention and treatment.OBJECTIVE: To Survey and analyze the present awareness of stroke prevention and treatment knowledge among patients' relatives.DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.SETTING: Beijing Hospital and Medical College of Shandong University and Harrison International Peace Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University.PARTICIPANTS: From May 2005 to November 2006, a "stroke awareness" questionnaire survey was per-formed in four hospitals, including Harrison International Peace Hospital in Hengshui City (third class, First grade). Fucheng County People's Hospital (second class. first grade), Zaoqiang County Jiahui Countryside Hospital (first class, first grade) and Hengshui City Electricity Industry Bureau Infirmary. The participants provided confirmed consent.METHODS: The "stroke awareness" questionnaire included 10 questions: 1-8 were related to the understanding of stroke. 9 and 10 were related to behavior and attitude towards medical treatment. Demographic information was also collected on each participant, including age, education level, and occupation. Each positive answer accounted for one point. A score of 8 or higher was categorized as "good stroke awareness".MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scores of stroke awareness.RESULTS: A total of 4 000 "stroke awareness" questionnaires were printed and distributed. 3 597 copies were completed and 3 468 were included in the study. (1) Relative factors of stroke awareness: The survey demonstrated that the participant's age, educational level, Occupation. grade of hospital, and the relationship with the patient had a significant effect on their stroke awareness (P < 0.05-0.01). (2) Stroke knowledge: With regard to stroke awareness, 72% Subjects did not know the signs indicating the onset of transient ischemic attack; 86%, 72%, and 51% did not know that diabetes, cardiopathy, or smoking and drinking were risk factors for cerebral thrombosis, respectively. With regard to awareness of cerebral thrombosis symptoms, almost 60% did not know the symptoms of vertebrobasilar ischemia, such as dizziness, vomiting, and impaired eyesight. With respect to cerebral thrombosis treatment, 27% reported that when a stroke occurs, they would like to see the doctor subsequent to discussion with their families, or they would even wait a few days. They did not regard their condition as an "emergency".CONCLUSION: Relatives have little knowledge about stroke, but there are significant differences in levels of awareness with respect to occupation and educational levels.