Public knowledge of stroke in Chinese urban residents: a community questionnaire study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Intensive control of the risk factors of stroke and the pre-hospital delay after stroke onset both depend on the level of knowledge of stroke in the general population. Our primary objective was to assess the public knowledge about stroke among urban residents in four cities in China.

METHODS

A semi-structured interview and questionnaire was delivered in a survey. Standardized risk factor and symptom statements were used to measure knowledge. The setting of two communities from four different cities of China was used to target a mix of social class and geography. Using systematic sampling and the household as a unit, at least 300 households were chosen in one community. Each household selected one person to fill in the self-designed questionnaire. Uniform training of community physicians was conducted before the survey, and the community physicians completed the survey by face to face indoor-investigation.

RESULTS

Total integral questionnaires numbered 2519. The investigation showed that (1) hypertension was identified as a risk factor by nearly 90% of residents. Dyslipidemia, smoking, diabetes, and non-modifiable risk factors were identified by less than 65%; (2) medical therapy of hypertension and diabetes was known by nearly 80% of residents, and the awareness of lifestyle modification was less; (3) weakness or numbness were the most common symptoms identified by community residents (80.2%), and the awareness of other symptoms of stroke ranged from 58.2 to 71.2%; (4) the stroke knowledge score and education level were positively correlated (r(s) = 0.088, P<0.001), and age was negatively correlated (r(s) = -0.142, P<0.001); (5) 53.0% of residents would call an emergency medical system once stroke symptoms began; (6) the main sources of information about stroke were television (74.4%), doctors (63.2%) and newspapers (61.8%).

CONCLUSION

At present, the urban community residents in China are lacking in knowledge about stroke. Going forward, we should strengthen health education through television, medical staff, newspapers, magazines. Targeted educational populations should be directed at those who are elderly, lower education, male and high risk.