The nature and predictors of stroke knowledge amongst at risk elderly persons in Brisbane, Australia

The aim of the study was to investigate the nature, extent, and predictors of stroke knowledge amongst people at risk of stroke.

A total of 273 questionnaires were distributed to three types of sites in metropolitan Brisbane (retirement villages, senior citizens and bowls clubs), and this strategy yielded a response rate of 37%. Of the surveys returned, 75 were retained in this study on the basis that: (a) participants met our criteria for being at risk of stroke (i.e., they reported one or more modifiable stroke risk factor, such as hypertension), and (b) they returned a completed Stroke Knowledge Test (SKT).

Descriptive analyses revealed the overall level of stroke knowledge in this group was fair (approximately 50% of SKT items answered correctly, on average). SKT performance trends showed that participants did not have misconceptions about stroke but that more than 50% of the sample did not know the answer to seven out of 20 SKT items. Some overlap was identified regarding the issues about which participants in this and other previously researched groups admit they lack knowledge, such as the extent of increased stroke risk associated with smoking; however, the number of knowledge gaps identified in this sample was almost double that reported previously amongst stroke survivors and the general community. Analyses undertaken to explore determinants of stroke knowledge revealed age and education but not risk factor variables as significant predictors.

Overall, findings suggest that it is presently difficult to predict an individual's understanding of stroke and that there is a need to increase stroke education, especially if this can address issues that people at risk of stroke admit they do not understand.