General Public Awareness, Recognition, and Response to Stroke in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Background: Stroke awareness and prevention are poorly addressed in the community despite their importance for controlling and preventing stroke. Treatment outcomes for stroke are strongly influenced by the time lined by seizure and start of treatment (often called the golden time). In strokes, acute paralysis can be reversed if predicted early and managed effectively. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the general public recognition of stroke risk factors, dangerous signs, and their response to stroke. Methods: This survey was conducted online between September 20 and December 20, 2023 in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. A convenience sampling of 400 adults over the age of 18 filled out the survey. Three main areas were examined in the survey: demographics, medical history, and knowledge regarding strokes and cardiovascular risk factors. Results: The study enrolled 400 participants, of whom 72 percent were female. Hypertension was recognised as the first risk factor for stroke by more than one-third (35%) of the study subjects. Stroke risk factors were identified by the majority of respondents. The most common stroke manifestation, according to approximately one-third of participants, was speech and understanding difficulties. Conclusion: There is a low level of health literacy among the Saudi population regarding stroke risk factors, symptoms, and consequences. To raise public awareness about strokes, we identified the need for more awareness campaigns.