The level of knowledge on acute stroke among teachers in public and private schools in western region, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Background: Stroke is a major global health issue, ranking second in mortality and third in disability worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, it is the third leading cause of death, following ischemic heart disease and road injuries Teacher awareness of stroke signs, symptoms, and risk factors is crucial for enhancing community awareness, enabling early identification, risk modification, and prevention. The present study aimed at assessing the knowledge level on acute stroke among teachers in Public and Private Schools western region, Saudi Arabia Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among public and private school teachers using an online questionnaire distributed via Google Forms. The survey collected demographic and work-related data, as well as teachers' knowledge of stroke warning signs, symptoms, risk factors, treatments, response actions, and prior stroke experiences. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: A total of 289 teachers enrolled in our study. Among them, 277 (95.8%) had heard of the term "stroke," and 73.4% knew that sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg is a symptom of stroke. The most commonly known risk factor was high blood pressure (89.6%). We also found that 51.9% of teachers had fair knowledge about stroke, while 37% demonstrated a good knowledge level. On the other hand, no significant relationship was found between teachers' level of knowledge about stroke and other demographic or work-related data (p > 0.05). However, the results indicate that a good knowledge level about stroke was significantly higher among teachers who knew someone who had experienced a stroke (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study found stroke related knowledge among teachers in western region was fairly good, school campaigns and health education programs are recommended to raise the awareness of community.