ARYA Atherosclerosis Journal

Current Issue

By Issue

By Author

By Subject

Author Index

Keyword Index

About Journal

Aims and Scope

Editorial Board

Publication Ethics

Indexing and Abstracting

Related Links

FAQ

Peer Review Process

Journal Metrics

News

Public awareness and knowledge of stroke risk factors and symptoms in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Rafha General Hospital, Northern Border region, Rafha, Saudi Arabia

2 Department of Nursing science College of Nursing, Northern Border university, Arar, Saudi Arabia

3 Department of clinical practice College of Pharmacy, Northern Border university, Rafha, Saudi Arabia

4 Department of phytochemistry and natural product College of Pharmacy, Northern Border university, Rafha, Saudi Arabia

5 Department of Pharmaceutics College of Pharmacy, Northern Border university, Rafha, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Stroke is a critical global health issue characterized by sudden neurological dysfunction due to disrupted blood flow to the brain. This study aims to enhance understanding of stroke by examining its risk factors, symptoms, and prevention strategies. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Saudi Arabia; the research involved a random sample of 442 participants over two months in 2024. The findings revealed that 63% of respondents were female, with the majority (64%) aged between 20–40 years, and 76% had university education. The overall knowledge level regarding stroke was moderate, at 62%. Of the 275 participants from the Northern Border Region, 60% demonstrated knowledge regarding risk factors, 58% regarding signs and symptoms, and 60% regarding treatment options. These results highlight a significant gap in knowledge among the Saudi public, particularly in understanding stroke’s general aspects, risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options. The study emphasizes the importance of early recognition of stroke symptoms, summarized by the F.A.S.T. acronym, for timely medical intervention. It underscores the necessity for improved public education and awareness campaigns to enhance understanding and potentially reduce the impact of stroke in the community. A multifaceted approach integrating awareness, lifestyle modifications, and medical management is essential for effective stroke prevention and improved quality of life for individuals at risk.

Keywords

References
1. Rizal II, Octaviantie G. The study of risk factor and strategies for prevention of recurrent ischemic stroke: a comprehensive systematic review. J Adv Res Med Health Sci. 2024. https://doi.org/10.61841/w0n2j027
2. Kasperski R, Piekarska M, Pacek K, Pikulicka A, Szulc I, Jedlina K, et al. Stroke prevention – review of the latest reports. J Educ Health Sport. 2023;13(2):037. https://doi.org/10.12775/jehs.2023.13.02.037
3. Dopler B. Stroke Prevention. Del J Public Health. 2023;9(8):003. https://doi.org/10.32481/djph.2023.08.003
4. Saini N, Gurvendra AL. Stroke-Related Risk Factors: A Review. Asian Pac J Health Sci. 2022;9(3):102-7. https://doi.org/10.21276/apjhs.2022.9.3.21
5. Goldstein LB, Seshadri S, Sacco RL. Risk Factors and Prevention. In: Stroke (7th ed). Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. 2022:187-206.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-69424-7.00016-8.
6. Zhang S, Zhang W, Zhou G. Extended Risk Factors for Stroke Prevention. J Natl Med Assoc. 2019 Aug;111(4):447-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnma.2019.02.004
7. Akindahunsi T, Ogunseye OO, Idowu OA, Lawal TA. Early signs of stroke: How your body warns you. World J Adv Res Rev. 2019;3(2):91-100. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2019.3.2.0045
8. Meschia JF, Fornage M. Genetic Basis of Stroke Occurrence, Prevention, and Outcome. Stroke (7th ed). Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-69424-7.00019-3
9. Khasanova LT, Stakhovskaya LV, Koltsova EA, Shamalov NA. Genetic Features of Cerebral Stroke. Neurosci Behav Physiol. 2020;50(7):873-80. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11055-020-00997-W
10. Khasanova LT, Stakhovskaya LV, Koltsova EA, Shamalov NA. Genetic characteristics of stroke. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2019;119(12):65-71. https://doi.org/10.17116/JNEVRO201911912265
11. Wang M, Sun F, Ren A, Ge R, Chen J, Wang H. The involvement of genetic variation in the cAMP pathway in the family- based cerebral infarction. 15 April 2022, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1410294/v1
12. Francis J, Raghunathan S, Khanna P. The role of genetics in stroke. Postgrad Med J. 2007 Sep;83(983):590-5. https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.2007.060319
13. Ghodeshwar GK, Dube A, Khobragade DS. Impact of Lifestyle Modifications on Cardiovascular Health: A Narrative Review. Cureus. 2023;15(9):e42616. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.42616
14. Sese LVC, Guillermo M. Strengthening stroke prevention and awareness in the Philippines: a conceptual framework. Front Neurol. 2023;14:1258821. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1258821
15. Miller ET. Stroke awareness: take preventive action. Rehabil Nurs. 2014;39(5):211-2. https://doi.org/10.1002/RNJ.163
16. Slark J, Sharma P. Risk awareness in secondary stroke prevention: a review of the literature. JRSM Cardiovasc Dis. 2014 Feb 4;3:2048004013514737. https://doi.org/10.1177/2048004013514737
17. Volpe M, Rosei EA, Ambrosioni E, Leonetti G, Trimarco B, Mancia G. Reduction in estimated stroke risk associated with practice-based stroke-risk assessment and awareness in a large, representative population of hypertensive patients: results from the ForLife study in Italy. J Hypertens. 2007 Dec;25(12):2390-7. https://doi.org/10.1097/hjh.0b013e3282efc5a2
18. Jackson SL, Legvold B, Vahratian A, Blackwell DL, Fang J, Gillespie C, et al. Sociodemographic and Geographic Variation in Awareness of Stroke Signs and Symptoms Among Adults - United States, 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020 Nov 6;69(44):1617-21. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6944a1
19. Alromail NMA, Halawani MS, Malawi IA, Almutairi AM, Alsaib AA, AL-Osaimi BN, et al. Emergency Management of Stroke. Egypt J Hosp Med. 2017;69(8):3100-5. https://doi.org/10.12816/0042257
20. Langingi ARC. Pemberdayaan masyarakat dalam upaya pencegahan stroke di kelurahan taratara satu. 2024;1(2):13-23. https://doi.org/10.34304/joehr.v2i2.224
21. Nikita HJ, Suraj BK. Gender Wise Difference in Presenting Signs and Symptoms of Stroke: Observational Study. J Forensic Med. 2020;14(3):10379. https://doi.org/10.37506/IJFMT.V14I3.10379
22. Bhatia K, Bhagavan S, Bains N, French B, Siddiq F, Gomez CR, et al. Current Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke. Mo Med. 2020 Sep-Oct;117(5):480-9.
23. Campbell BC. Advances in stroke medicine. Med J Aust. 2019 May;210(8):367-74. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.50137
24. Zaremba B, Gorecka A, Wysokińska O, Cholewa K, Milanowska J. New directions in treatment of the ischemic stroke. J Educ Health Sport. 2020;10(7):66-77. https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2020.10.07.006
25. Ovbiagele B, Nguyen-Huynh MN. Stroke epidemiology: advancing our understanding of disease mechanism and therapy. Neurotherapeutics. 2011;8(3):319-29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-011-0053-1
26. Alhazzani AA, Mahfouz AA, Abolyazid AY, Awadalla NJ, Aftab R, Faraheen A, et al. Study of Stroke Incidence in the Aseer Region, Southwestern Saudi Arabia. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Jan 26;15(2):215. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15020215
27. Feigin VL, Norrving B, Mensah GA. Global Burden of Stroke. Circ Res. 2017 Feb 3;120(3):439-48. https://doi.org/10.1161/circresaha.116.308413
28. Almalki MA, AlJishi MN, Khayat MA, Bokhari HF, Subki AH, Alzahrani AM, et al. Population awareness of coronary artery disease risk factors in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. Int J Gen Med. 2019 Jan 11;12:63-70. https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s184732
29. Kamran S, Bener AB, Deleu D, Khoja W, Jumma M, Al Shubali A, et al. The level of awareness of stroke risk factors and symptoms in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: Gulf Cooperation Council stroke awareness study. Neuroepidemiology. 2007;29(3-4):235-42. https://doi.org/10.1159/000112856
30. Pandian JD, Jaison A, Deepak SS, Kalra G, Shamsher S, Lincoln DJ, et al. Public awareness of warning symptoms, risk factors, and treatment of stroke in northwest India. Stroke. 2005 Mar;36(3):644-8. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.str.0000154876.08468.a0
31. Monaliza MA, Srivastava A. Awareness of risk factors and warning symptoms of stroke in general population. Nurs Midwifery Res J. 2012;8(2):149-61. https://doi.org/10.1177/0974150X20120203
32. Cheung RT, Li LS, Mak W, Tsang KL, Lauder IJ, Chan KH, Fong GC. Knowledge of stroke in Hong Kong Chinese. Cerebrovasc Dis. 1999 Mar-Apr;9(2):119-23. https://doi.org/10.1159/000015909
33. Segura T, Vega G, López S, Rubio F, Castillo J. Public perception of stroke in Spain. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2003;16(1):21-6. https://doi.org/10.1159/000070110
34. Parahoo K, Thompson K, Cooper M, Stringer M, Ennis E, McCollam P. Stroke: awareness of the signs, symptoms and risk factors--a population-based survey. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2003;16(2):134-40. https://doi.org/10.1159/000070593
35. Al Shafaee MA, Ganguly SS, Al Asmi AR. Perception of stroke and knowledge of potential risk factors among Omani patients at increased risk for stroke. BMC Neurol. 2006 Oct 20;6:38.https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2377-6-38
36. Mokhtar MH, Eltayeb EM, Satte MS, Eltaib Lina SA, Nourein IH. Assessment of Sudanese cardiac health-care professionals’ competency and adherence to the current anticoagulation guidelines with non-valvular atrial fibrillation Sudanese patients. Int J Med Sci Public Health 2018;7(8):626-9. https://doi.org/10.5455/ijmsph.2018.0412729042018
37. Aly Z, Abbas K, Kazim SF, Taj F, Aziz F, Irfan A, et al. Awareness of stroke risk factors, signs and treatment in a Pakistani population. J Pak Med Assoc. 2009 Jul;59(7):495-9.
ARYA Atherosclerosis Journal
Volume 21, Issue 4
May and June 2025
Pages 26-35
Files
Share
How to cite
Statistics