Knowledge and attitude towards stroke among the population of one rural community in southern Thailand: a survey

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate attitude and knowledge of stroke in a rural community in southern Thailand.

Design: A survey.

Setting: A community in southern Thailand.

Participants: All community members aged ≥18 years who were at home during the survey were invited to participate.

Primary and secondary outcome measures: Level of attitude and knowledge score towards stroke were assessed, and the associated factors were evaluated.

Methods: The questionnaire used in this survey was developed from a literature review, and the content validity and reliability were tested before use. Logistic and linear regression were used to determine factors associated with the level of attitude and knowledge score towards stroke.

Results: Among 247 participants, most were Muslim and the median age was 54.0 years. The median (Q1, Q3) score of stroke risk factors was 5 (2, 7) (full score: 9). Participants who knew about stroke, had an acquaintance diagnosed with stroke and had a high level of attitude had significantly higher scores. Two-thirds of the participants had a low-to-moderate level of attitude. Furthermore, most high-risk participants (99/113) had a low to no chance awareness of their risk to stroke. The median (Q1, Q3) score of stroke warning symptoms was 6 (3, 7) (full score: 10). The participants who had received education via the Face Arm Speech Time (FAST) campaign demonstrated a significantly higher proportion of correct answers to the symptoms mentioned in the FAST.

Conclusion: About half of the participants in this community did not know some of the risk factors and warning symptoms of stroke. Moreover, most participants had a low-to-moderate level of attitude and underestimated their risk to stroke even in the high cardiovascular risk participants. The FAST may help people memorise the typical warning symptoms of stroke.

Keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES; PUBLIC HEALTH; Stroke.