Knowledge, Practices and Health Beliefs of Stroke Risk Factors Among Patients with Hypertension: Basis for Stroke Prevention Program

Aim: This study aimed to find out the level of knowledge, practices and health beliefs of stroke risk factors among patients with hypertension attending check-up in Out-Patient Department of President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital as an input for stroke prevention program. Methodology: This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational survey design. The study included two hundred hypertensive patients from ages 20 and older without cases of stroke incidence attending clinic in President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital ? Out Patient Department. Results: The researcher found out that the respondents are female, in their middle adulthood, married, Roman Catholic, high school graduate and unemployed. The respondents assessed ?sometimes true? on signs and symptoms and causes of stroke while ?always true? on stroke risk factors and stroke prevention respectively. The stroke-patient respondents were assessed ?partly practiced? on daily practices while ?sometimes practiced? on stroke prevention practices. The respondents were ?agree? on the perception towards health beliefs related to stroke. Conclusion: There is no significant difference on the assessment towards sign and symptoms, causes of stroke, stroke risk factors and stroke prevention when grouped according to age, sex, civil status, religion, highest educational attainment and occupation profile variables. There is no significant difference on the assessment towards daily practices while significant on sex and civil status towards stroke prevention practices. There is significant difference when grouped according to age and religion on the assessment towards health beliefs related to stroke. There is weak correlation between knowledge and risk factors and the practices while moderate relationship between practices and the causes of stroke and stroke prevention respectively.