Awareness Regarding Stroke In Rural Community Of Vadodara
Awareness Regarding Stroke
Keywords:
Stroke, Warning Signs, Awareness, Older peopleAbstract
Background and Objectives: Stroke is a principal cause of death and functional impairment. While older people are particularly vulnerable to stroke, research suggests that they have the poorest awareness of stroke warning signs. This study explored knowledge of stroke warning signs among older adults. Methods: Randomly selected older people (aged ≥ 65) in rural area of Vadodara. Participants completed home interviews. Questions assessed knowledge of stroke warning signs for stroke. Results: Of the whole sample, Less than half identified established warning signs (e.g., weakness, headache), with slurred speech (54%) as the exclusion. In general, there were considerable gaps in alertness with poorest levels evident in those with primary level education only and in those alive in rural area of Vadodara. Conclusion: Knowledge deficits in this study suggest that most of the common early symptoms or signs of stroke were recognized as such by less than half of the older adults surveyed. Thus, they may lose vital time in presenting for medical attention. Lack of public awareness about stroke warning signs must be addressed as one important contribution to reducing mortality and morbidity from stroke.
References
2. Swain S, Turner C, Tyrrell P, Rudd A: Diagnosis and initital management of acute stroke and transient ischaemic attack: summary of NICE guidance. British Medical Journal 2008, 337:786.
3. Stroke: national clinical guideline for diagnosis and initial management of acute stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA). NICE Clinical Guideline Royal College of Physicians, London: National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions 2008.
4. Harraf F, Sharma AK, Brown MM, Lees KR, Vass RI, Kalra L: A multicentre observational study of presentation and early assessment of acute stroke. BMJ 2002, 325:17.
5. Kwan J, Hand P, Sandercock P: A systematic review of barriers to delivery of thrombolysis for acute stroke. Age Ageing 2004, 33:116-121.
6. Mandelzweig L, Goldbourt U, Boyko V, Tanne D: Perceptual, social, and behavioral factors associated with delays in seeking medical care in patients with symptoms of acute stroke. Stroke 2006, 37:1248-1253.7. Pancioli AM, Broderick J, Kothari R, Brott T, Tuchfarber A, Miller R, Khoury J, Jauch E: Public perception of stroke warning signs and knowledge of potential risk factors. JAMA 1998,279:1288-1292.
8. Schneider AT, Pancioli AP, Khoury JC, Rademacher E, Tuchfarber A, Miller R, Woo D, Kissela B, Broderick JP: Trends in community knowledge of the warning signs and risk factors for stroke. JAMA 2003, 289:343-6.
9. Yoon SS, Heller RF, Levi C, Wiggers J, Fitzgerald PE: Knowledge of stroke risk factors, warning symptoms, and treatment among an Australian urban population. Stroke 2001, 32:1926-1930.
10. Reeves MJ, Rafferty AP, Aranha AAR, Theisen V: Changes in knowledge of stroke risk factors and warning signs among Michigan adults. Cerebrovasc Dis 2008, 25:385-391.
11. The European Stroke Organisation (ESO) Executive Committee and the ESO Writing Committee: Guidelines for management of ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attach 2008. Cerebrovasc Dis 2008, 25:457-507.
12. Montaner J, Vidal C, Molina C, Alvarez-Sabin J: Selecting the target and the message for a stroke public education campaign: a local survey conducted by neurologists. European Journal of Epidemiology 2001, 17:581-586.
13. Silver FL, Rubini F, Black D, Hodgson CS: Advertising strategies to increase public knowledge of the warning signs of stroke. Stroke 2003, 34:1965-1969.
14. Fogle CC, Oser CS, Troutman TP, McNamara M, Williamson AP, Keller M, McNamara S, Helgerson SD, Gohdes D, Harwell TS: Public education strategies to increase awareness of stroke warning signs and the need to call 911. J Public Health Management Practice 2008, 14:E17-E22.
15. Greenlund KJ, Neff LJ, Zheng ZJ, Keenan NL, Giles WH, Avala CA, Croft JB, Mensah GA: Low public recognition of major stroke symptoms. Am J Prev Med 2003, 25:315-319.
16. Hodgson C, Lindsay P, Rubini F: Can mass media influence emergency department visits for stroke? Stroke 2007, 38:2115-2122.
17. Mandelzweig L, Goldbourt U, Boyko V, Tanne D: Perceptual, social and behavioural factors
associated with delays in seeking medical care in patients with symptoms of acute stroke.Stroke 2006, 37:1248-1253.
