Perceptions of stroke among patients with an increased risk of stroke

Aim To examine the self-assessment of risk causing stroke,knowledge about risk factors and symptoms, informationsources and attitudes about stroke in rural and urban environments,for patients with increased risks factors in relationto the need for education.Methods The sample of 200 patients with hypertension whohave not suffered stroke were tested in the study, which wasconducted in an outpatient clinics in Osijek and surroundingvillages in March and April 2008. The study was performedusing a questionnaire and the scale of attitudes made for thispurpose. The descriptive statistics was used and the differencesbetween the categorical variables were tested using the t- test.Results A total of 122 (56%) subjects did not recognize individualincreased risk of stroke and half of them did not recognizeall risk factors and symptoms of stroke. Warning symptoms ofstroke was not recognized by 97 (48.5%) patients and in theevent of their occurrence 36 (18%) would not have respondedadequately. A total of 95 (47.5%) subjects received informationabout stroke from the environment, and 129 (84%) respondentsexpected information from health professionals. Therewas no significant difference in knowledge or in attitude aboutstroke among rural and urban respondents (p =0.098).Conclusion The research has shown the need for educationabout risk factors and symptoms of stroke and the treatmentin the event of its occurrence by health professionals in bothtested groups.