Aziz Mohd Azmarul A, Abidin Nur Jannah Hani Zainal, Kamal Rahayu Mustaffa, Mat Ludin Arimi Fitri
School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (Health Campus), Kubang Kerian, Malaysia.
Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Malaysia.
BMC Public Health. 2025 Aug 8;25(1):2704. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-24000-8.
A growing body of research highlights a persistent gap in public awareness and knowledge regarding aphasia. This lack of understanding presents a significant barrier to improving quality of life for individuals living with aphasia and hinders crucial research investment in the field. Surprisingly, despite the increasing incidence of aphasia in Malaysia, limited published studies have investigated public awareness and knowledge within this population. This study aims to investigate the awareness and knowledge of aphasia among the Malaysian public.
Data collection employed a modified online survey distributed to adult residents of Malaysia via a telecommunication application. Two hundred thirteen individuals completed the questionnaire, which assessed demographic characteristics, aphasia awareness levels, knowledge of the condition, and preferred sources of information about aphasia.
Out of 213 participants (female: n = 168, male: n = 45), 77 (36.2%) were aware of aphasia, whereas only 19 (8.9%) had knowledge about it. There was a significant association between occupation and knowledge of aphasia. Gender, age, and educational level had no significant relationship with either awareness or knowledge. The main sources of information were the internet/social media, friends/relatives, and the workplace.
This study revealed a lack of awareness of aphasia among the Malaysian public. Low levels of awareness and knowledge highlight the need for awareness-raising programs throughout the country. Efforts should focus on improving public understanding of aphasia through targeted campaigns and the use of various media platforms.
越来越多的研究凸显了公众在失语症认知和知识方面存在持续差距。这种认知不足对提高失语症患者的生活质量构成了重大障碍，并阻碍了该领域关键的研究投入。令人惊讶的是，尽管马来西亚失语症发病率不断上升，但已发表的研究中很少有调查该人群的公众认知和知识情况。本研究旨在调查马来西亚公众对失语症的认知和了解。
数据收集采用了一种经过修改的在线调查问卷，通过一款电信应用程序分发给马来西亚成年居民。213人完成了问卷，问卷评估了人口统计学特征、失语症认知水平、对该病的了解程度以及失语症首选信息来源。
在213名参与者中（女性：n = 168，男性：n = 45），77人（36.2%）知晓失语症，而只有19人（8.9%）了解失语症。职业与失语症知识之间存在显著关联。性别、年龄和教育程度与认知或知识均无显著关系。主要信息来源是互联网/社交媒体、朋友/亲戚和工作场所。
本研究揭示了马来西亚公众对失语症缺乏认知。低水平的认知和知识凸显了在全国开展提高认知项目的必要性。应通过有针对性的宣传活动和利用各种媒体平台，努力提高公众对失语症的理解。
