Awareness of stroke in a teaching hospital in North Karnataka: A cross-sectional study

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 interviewed, 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.