CONTEXT: The 2018 consensus statement of the Indian Stroke Association ranks stroke as the second leading cause of death in India, thus making it a public health challenge.The associated stigma and inadequate knowledge stand as a hurdle in early detection of the disease, which delays treatment leading to disabilities.AIMS: To assess the awareness of risk factors, warning symptoms, and treatment of stroke and its consequences.
METHODOLOGY: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted between July 2019 and January 2020.Relatives of patients who came to the outpatient and inpatient departments of psychiatry in a tertiary care teaching hospital in North Karnataka were invited to participate in this study and interviewed one to one and the responses were noted in the questionnaire.RESULTS: Among the 403 people who were fr3622 interviewed, honda weathershields 97.
5% had heard about stroke, 86.1% knew the signs and symptoms of stroke, and 81.8% knew the various risk factors associated with stroke.
Almost all responded that the stroke-affected person should be taken to the hospital.Seventy percent felt that it affected daily living, while around half responded that stroke was a preventable disease but were unwilling to make lifestyle changes or modify the risk factors.The respondents agreed that health-care professionals were the best source of information about stroke in the community.
CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge about the warning symptoms and risk factors seems to be better in people attending the teaching hospital, but a lack of knowledge when it comes to treatment, stroke outcome, and prevention of stroke is evident.Health awareness activities should focus on treatment-seeking behavior, rehabilitation, and primary preventive aspects.