Abstract
Background and Purpose: We sought to determine knowl-edge at tire time of symptom onset regarding the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of stroke in patients presenting to the emergency department with potential stroke. Methods: Patients admitted from the emergency department with possible stroke were identified prospectively. A standardized, structured interview with open-ended questions was per-formed within 48 hours of symptom onset to assess patients' knowledge base concerning stroke signs, symptoms, and risk factors. Results: Of the 174 eligible patients, 163 patients were able to respond to the interview questions. Of these 163 patients, 39% (63) did not know a single sign or symptom of stroke. Unilateral weakness (26%) and numbness (22%) were the most frequently noted symptoms. Patients aged ≤65 years were less likely to know a sign or symptom of stroke than those aged <65 years (percentage not knowing a single sign or symptom, 47% versus 28%, P=.016). Similarly, 43% of patients did not know a single risk factor for stroke. The elderly were less likely to know a risk factor than their younger counterparts. Conclusions: Almost 40% of patients admitted with a pos-sible stroke did not know the signs, symptoms, or risk factor of a stroke. Further public education is needed to increase awareness of the warning signs and risk factors of stroke.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1871-1875 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Stroke |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 10 |
State | Published - Oct 1997 |
Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Health education
- Risk factors
- Stroke, acute
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
- Neuroscience(all)
Cite this
Patients' awareness of stroke signs, symptoms, and risk factors. / Kothari, Rashmi; Sauerbeck, Laura; Jauch, Edward; Broderick, Joseph; Brott, Thomas G; Khoury, Jane; Liu, Tiepu.
In: Stroke, Vol. 28, No. 10, 10.1997, p. 1871-1875.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Patients' awareness of stroke signs, symptoms, and risk factors
AU - Kothari, Rashmi
AU - Sauerbeck, Laura
AU - Jauch, Edward
AU - Broderick, Joseph
AU - Brott, Thomas G
AU - Khoury, Jane
AU - Liu, Tiepu
PY - 1997/10
Y1 - 1997/10
N2 - Background and Purpose: We sought to determine knowl-edge at tire time of symptom onset regarding the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of stroke in patients presenting to the emergency department with potential stroke. Methods: Patients admitted from the emergency department with possible stroke were identified prospectively. A standardized, structured interview with open-ended questions was per-formed within 48 hours of symptom onset to assess patients' knowledge base concerning stroke signs, symptoms, and risk factors. Results: Of the 174 eligible patients, 163 patients were able to respond to the interview questions. Of these 163 patients, 39% (63) did not know a single sign or symptom of stroke. Unilateral weakness (26%) and numbness (22%) were the most frequently noted symptoms. Patients aged ≤65 years were less likely to know a sign or symptom of stroke than those aged <65 years (percentage not knowing a single sign or symptom, 47% versus 28%, P=.016). Similarly, 43% of patients did not know a single risk factor for stroke. The elderly were less likely to know a risk factor than their younger counterparts. Conclusions: Almost 40% of patients admitted with a pos-sible stroke did not know the signs, symptoms, or risk factor of a stroke. Further public education is needed to increase awareness of the warning signs and risk factors of stroke.
AB - Background and Purpose: We sought to determine knowl-edge at tire time of symptom onset regarding the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of stroke in patients presenting to the emergency department with potential stroke. Methods: Patients admitted from the emergency department with possible stroke were identified prospectively. A standardized, structured interview with open-ended questions was per-formed within 48 hours of symptom onset to assess patients' knowledge base concerning stroke signs, symptoms, and risk factors. Results: Of the 174 eligible patients, 163 patients were able to respond to the interview questions. Of these 163 patients, 39% (63) did not know a single sign or symptom of stroke. Unilateral weakness (26%) and numbness (22%) were the most frequently noted symptoms. Patients aged ≤65 years were less likely to know a sign or symptom of stroke than those aged <65 years (percentage not knowing a single sign or symptom, 47% versus 28%, P=.016). Similarly, 43% of patients did not know a single risk factor for stroke. The elderly were less likely to know a risk factor than their younger counterparts. Conclusions: Almost 40% of patients admitted with a pos-sible stroke did not know the signs, symptoms, or risk factor of a stroke. Further public education is needed to increase awareness of the warning signs and risk factors of stroke.
KW - Health education
KW - Risk factors
KW - Stroke, acute
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030711716&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0030711716&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 9341687
AN - SCOPUS:0030711716
VL - 28
SP - 1871
EP - 1875
JO - Stroke
JF - Stroke
SN - 0039-2499
IS - 10
ER -