Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Stroke is a major cause of death, with hypertension being a significant modifiable risk factor. Recognizing stroke symptoms early and receiving prompt treatment can greatly reduce both morbidity and mortality. Evaluating stroke awareness among hypertensive patients is crucial for developing effective health promotion strategies. This study was conducted with the primary objective to assess the level of stroke awareness and preventive practices among individuals with hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, a tertiary care teaching hospital in western Rajasthan, India, using a cross-sectional study design. The ethical clearance was received from Institutional Ethical Clearance committees. This study was conducted over a three-month period, from May to July 2023. Among all patients who attended the outpatient department of the neurology and cardiology department, 324 patients were selected using the nonprobability purposive sampling technique for the study who were fulfilling inclusion criteria. A self-structured awareness questionnaire tool was used for data collection. The questionnaire consisted of 24 items, with each item carrying a score of 1 point. The questionnaire has five domains that include the meaning of stroke, risk factors and causes, warning signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests, and treatment and prevention. The total score of the questionnaire was classified into three levels: poor knowledge (0-8), fair knowledge (9-16), and good knowledge (17-24). RESULTS: The study assessed stroke awareness among 324 hypertensive patients. Awareness of the definition of stroke was observed in 55% of participants. Knowledge of risk factors and causes was relatively low, with only 31.25% of participants demonstrating adequate understanding. In contrast, awareness of stroke warning signs and symptoms was notably higher, with 73.7% of participants showing good awareness. Awareness of diagnostic tests was moderate, with 50.5% of respondents correctly identifying relevant information. The highest level of knowledge was seen in the area of treatment and prevention, where 75.7% of participants displayed a satisfactory understanding. Categorizing their knowledge levels as poor, fair, or good. A total of 135 patients (41.7%) demonstrated a fair level of awareness, with an average score of 13.84±5.92. Additionally, 102 patients (31.5%) exhibited good awareness, while 87 patients (26.9%) had poor awareness. Most participants (41.66%) demonstrated a fair level of awareness, with a mean score of 13.84±5.92. Approximately 31.48% of patients exhibited good awareness, while 26.85% had poor awareness. CONCLUSION: Although hypertensive patients demonstrated a general awareness of stroke, their knowledge regarding specific risk factors and warning signs was limited, and engagement in stroke prevention behaviors was inadequate. These findings underscore the necessity for structured, evidence-based educational interventions to improve knowledge, foster appropriate attitudes, and address misconceptions related to stroke prevention among individuals with hypertension.