Public awareness is essential for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of stroke. In particular, young adults represent an important avenue for increasing awareness and precluding the adoption of unhealthy, risk-increasing behaviors. This study was the first to investigate the basic knowledge of Korean adolescents about stroke and evaluate the improvement of this knowledge after an educational lecture. In total, 1269 high school students were instructed on the risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and management of stroke. Knowledge was evaluated before education (Pre-E), immediately after the lecture (Post-E1), and during a 2-week follow-up (Post-E2), using a questionnaire. Overall, we found that students' knowledge increased after the educational session. On the questionnaire section pertaining to stroke risk factors, out of nine possible points, the mean scores were 3.97, 5.28, and 5.10, on the Pre-E, Post-E1, and Post-E2 tests, respectively, indicating a significant improvement (p < 0.001). Additionally, students who reported that they paid attention during the lecture performed better, and scored 4.29, 6.32, and 6.40, on the Pre-E, Post-E1, and Post-E2 tests, respectively, again indicating a significant improvement (p < 0.001). Our findings indicate that incorporating a stroke education program into school curriculums will enhance the knowledge of Korean adolescents. Implementing this type of program is critical as it may reduce behavior associated with increased stroke risk, and more effort is needed to develop educational methods for engaging students and increasing their concentration during these programs.
Keywords: Adolescence; Risk factors; Stroke; Stroke education.