Background: Stroke is one of the most common neurological diseases; it results from the reduction in nutrients and oxygen due to the reduction in the blood supply to the brain. A stroke occurs due to many risk factors including smoking and heart disease. A proper response to stroke depends on the awareness of the population about the symptoms and risks of stroke.
Aim: To assess the public awareness of stroke risk factors, symptoms, and the significance of acute management in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among Saudi population in Jeddah during the period from February to May 2021. The study was conducted using a self-administrated questionnaire. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used to analyze the collected data.
Results: This study included 685 individuals; females were more dominant and represented 76.6% of the sample, and 1.3% participants experienced a previous stroke. There were high levels of knowledge and a good attitude at 76.6% and 95.2%, respectively. The level of knowledge was potentially affected by age groups (p < 0.0001), gender (p < 0.0001), and marital status (p < 0.0001). Also, the attitude was significantly affected by age groups (p < 0.0001), gender (p = 0.002), and marital status (p = 0.001).
Conclusion: There is an acceptable level of knowledge among the Saudi population regarding stroke with a very good attitude toward proper response. The factors like age, gender, and marital status affected the level of knowledge and attitude of participants.
Key words: Awareness, Stroke, Symptoms, Management.
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