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Knowledge and Awareness of Stroke among the Elderly Population: Analysis of Data from a Sample of Older Adults in a Developing Country
oleh: Fouad Sakr, Jihan Safwan, Michelle Cherfane, Pascale Salameh, Hala Sacre, Chadia Haddad, Sarah El Khatib, Mohamad Rahal, Mohammad Dia, Ahmad Harb, Hassan Hosseini, Katia Iskandar
Format: | Article |
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Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2023-12-01 |
Deskripsi
<i>Background and Objectives:</i> Stroke prevention has traditionally concentrated on research to improve knowledge and awareness of the disease in the general population. Since stroke incidents increase with age, there is a need to focus on the elderly, a high-risk group for developing the disease. This study aimed to examine the level of stroke awareness and knowledge, their predictors, and their source of information. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> A prospective cross-sectional study targeted Lebanese senior citizens aged 65 years and above. A total of 513 participants enrolled in the study through a self-administered survey distributed using a snowball sampling technique. <i>Results:</i> Most participants had appropriate baseline knowledge (more than 75% correct answers) of stroke, including risk factors, alarming signs, and preventive measures. Better knowledge of disease risks was significantly associated with having a university degree (ORa = 1.609; <i>p</i> = 0.029). Participants who had previous ischemic attacks showed significantly lower knowledge of the alarming signs (ORa = 0.467; <i>p</i> = 0.036) and prevention measures (ORa = 0.427; <i>p</i> = 0.029). Those suffering from depression had better knowledge of stroke alarming signs (ORa = 2.060.; <i>p</i> = 0.050). Seeking information from pharmacists, physicians, or the internet was not significantly associated with better knowledge of stroke risks, alarming signs, and preventive measures. <i>Conclusions:</i> The present study showed that seniors had fair knowledge of stroke, despite gaps in stroke prevention measures. Healthcare providers could play a leading role in improving public health by educating seniors to enhance awareness about prevention measures, detecting alarming signs, and acting fast to save a life.