Stroke knowledge level among patients with ischemic stroke at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Stroke is a significant public health concern. The rising trend among stroke survivors, middle-aged, and multi-comorbid patients highlights the need for preventive intervention. In Malaysia, stroke survivors had insufficient understanding of stroke, despite being a common illness in the country.

Methods: A single-centre prospective study was conducted to determine the level of knowledge of stroke, its warning signs and symptoms, risk factors, and its association among stroke survivors who received treatment at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A validated Stroke Knowledge Test (SKT) questionnaire was used to analyse stroke knowledge.

Results: The participant’s mean age was 57.79 (± 11.13) years old, with the majority being first-time stroke patients (87.2%), below 60 years of age (55.3%), had multiple comorbidities (93.4%), and male gender (68.1%). Most (71.4%) were non-adherent to their current medications. The study participants scored poorly on identifying warning signs compared to their knowledge of strokes in general and understanding of stroke risk factors. The majority have poor knowledge of smoking (1.8%) and atrial fibrillation (AF) (1.5%) as risk factors. However, there was good knowledge of the purpose of rehabilitation (98.9%).

Conclusions: Participants’ knowledge about stroke, warning signs, symptoms, and risk factors were insufficient. Stroke knowledge was significantly associated with education, medication adherence, habitation, and income.