Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward post-stroke depression among stroke caregivers: a cross-sectional study and...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Post-stroke depression (PSD) significantly impacts stroke recovery.
• Caregivers are vital in managing PSD, yet their understanding in China is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of Chinese caregivers regarding PSD.
• To identify factors influencing caregivers' KAP towards PSD.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 497 caregivers of stroke patients in Beijing.
• Data collected via questionnaires on demographics, PSD knowledge, attitude, and practice.
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM).

Main Results:

• Caregivers demonstrated insufficient knowledge (57.4% of max score) but positive attitudes (82.92%) and practices (90.04%) regarding PSD.
• Knowledge was positively associated with attitude and practice (p < 0.001).
• Factors like gender, education, income, stroke duration, and depression screening influenced knowledge.

Conclusions:

• Chinese caregivers have knowledge gaps in recognizing PSD symptoms and management strategies.
• Positive attitudes and practices exist, but knowledge deficits may hinder effective PSD care.
• Targeted educational interventions are recommended to improve caregiver recognition and management of PSD, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.