Knowledge of risk factors and warning signs of stroke among patients with heart disease at Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital
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Date
2020-06
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: -Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide and the economic
costs of treatment and post-stroke care are extensive. A good functional outcome of stroke begins
when patients immediately identify its warning signs. The inability to identify stroke warning signs
accurately is an important cause of delay in seeking medical attention, leading to potential
ineligibility for acute intervention and which leads to secondary complications. The increasing
global stroke burden is strongly due to poor community knowledge of stroke risk factors and its
warning signs.
Objective: -the objective of this study was to identify cardiac patients' knowledge of stroke risk
factors and warning signs.
Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study design was employed. Participants were
selected using systematic random sampling. Standard stroke awareness close endedquestionnaires
used in the previous studies were adapted. Questionnaires were pretested and
validated for consistency before data collection. Then after data collection data were checked and
entered into Epidata 4.6. finally, the cleaned data was exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis.
Statistical analysis using binary logistic regression was done and Predictors with p-value of <0.05
were considered statistically significant. Finally based on the findings data was presented using
statements, tables, and figures.
Results: A total of 227 patients were included in the study, of which 140(61.7%) of them identified
physical inactivity, followed by hypertension126(55.5%) as stroke risk factor while 15.4% of them
didn't know any risk factor of stroke. Amongst the study participants, 45.81% of them had adequate
knowledge of stroke risk factors. Regarding stroke warning signs the most identified sign was
sudden unilateral weakness 142(62.6%) while, 46(20.26%) of them didn't know at least one
warning signs of a stroke. Based on multivariable logistic regression analysis higher education
level AOR 3.05(95% CI 1.62-5.74) and Urban residence area AOR 2.07(95%CI 1.05-4.1) were
significantly associated with knowledge of stroke risk factors with p-value<0.05.
Conclusion: study participants had inadequate knowledge of stroke risk factors and warning
signs. Educational status and information about stroke are significantly associated with adequate
knowledge of stroke risk factors, raising stroke awareness is the mainstay to reduce stroke burden.
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Keywords
knowledge; risk factors; stroke; warning sign