A Study to Assess the Awareness of Risk Factors and Warning Signs of Stroke among Patients in Selected Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab

Introduction: Stroke is a sudden loss of brain function resulting from an interference with blood supply to the brain. Stroke is a worldwide health problem. It makes an important contribution to morbidity, mortality and disability in developed as well as developing countries. It is the third leading cause of death in India as well as in other countries behind diseases of the heart and cancer.

Objectives: To assess the awareness of risk factors of stroke among patients, To assess the awareness of warning signs of stroke among patients, To find out the relationship of risk factors of stroke with selected variables as age, gender, monthly income, education, occupation, residence, family history of stroke , family history of hypertension, dietary habits, family history of coronary artery disease, To find out the relationship of warning signs of stroke with selected variables as age, gender, monthly income, education, occupation, residence, family history of stroke , family history of hypertension, dietary habits, family history of coronary artery disease, To prepare pamphlet on prevention of stroke based on the outcome of the study

Design: Non experimental Descriptive design

Setting: The study was conducted in neurology and medicine OPD in CMC&Hospital, Ludhiana

Participants: 100 neurology and medicine OPD patients

Measurement and tools: The awareness of risk factors and warning signs of stroke assessed by structured multiple choice questionnaires and a checklist. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.

Findings: The data revealed that 32% patients had below average awareness score regarding risk factors of stroke, followed by 30% average awareness score, 23% good score and 15% obtained excellent awareness score. Finding also showed that 44% patients had excellent awareness score regarding warning signs of stroke followed by 43% good awareness score, 13% average score and none was having below average awareness score. Further major findings also showed that according to variables the awareness of risk factors of stroke of patients were all non significant at p<0.05 level and p<0.001 except the variables education, residence and family history of hypertension. According to variables the awareness of warning signs of stroke of patients were all non significant at p<0.05 level and p<0.001 except the variable of age in years.

Conclusion: The study concluded that OPD patients do vary in their awareness of risk factors and warning signs.