Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Stroke Among Young Stroke Patients in China: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability, with rising incidence in young adults. This study evaluates the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) regarding stroke among young stroke patients aged 18-45 years.

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from January 15 to June 5, 2025, in Shanxi Province, China. Data from 445 young stroke patients were analyzed. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to explore the relationships among KAP domains.

The average KAP scores were 23.69±8.48, 43.71±4.84, and 40.32±5.68, respectively. SEM analysis revealed that knowledge directly influenced both attitudes (β=0.519, P=0.011) and practices (β=0.494, P=0.005). Furthermore, knowledge had a significant indirect effect on practices through attitudes (β=0.218, P=0.006). SEM analysis revealed that knowledge directly influenced both attitudes and practices, while attitudes partially mediated the relationship between knowledge and practice.

Young stroke patients demonstrated positive attitudes and moderate practices but had insufficient knowledge. This knowledge-practice gap underscores the urgent need for targeted educational interventions, such as digital health tools and community workshops, to improve secondary stroke prevention.