Factores pronósticos asociados al conocimiento y percepción de gravedad de la enfermedad cerebrovascular en la población general de Extremadura

Resumen

Importance: Education is an effective tool and it should be adapted to the culture and presented in a social context. There are currently no population-based studies in Extremadura that evaluate the need for public information on cerebrovascular diseases, and which could therefore be instrumental in the design of useful public information campaigns. Objective: This article surveys a representative sample of adults to assess their knowledge of stroke, its vascular risk factors and warning symptoms, illness perception, and attitude towards strokes. Design, Setting, and Participants: A representative sample of the region population was selected using a double randomization design. Previously trained medical students carried out face-to-face interviews. Main Outcomes and Measures: Survey Research. We using structured questionnaire with open-ended questions. Results: 2411 subjects were interviewed. Age younger than 65 years, urban area of residence, higher educational and economic level, and having previous experience with stroke in the family were independent predictors of "adequate knowledge of stroke". Surprisingly, respondents with a previous stroke or Vascular Risk Factors did not display better knowledge than others. There were no sex differences regarding the types of warning symptoms that respondents listed. Women displayed better knowledge of risk factors than men. Regarding immediate response to stroke, less than half of respondents would call the emergency number and 31% would go directly to the hospital. In response to stroke, women were significantly less likely than men to choose to call an ambulance or to go immediately to hospital. Conclusions and Relevance: Basic knowledge of stroke is insufficient among the general population of Extremadura. There is a discrepancy between theoretical stroke knowledge and illness perception. These findings have implications for public health initiatives for stroke.