title: Stroke: awareness of the signs, symptoms and risk factors--a population-based survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article reports the findings from a population-based survey conducted to determine baseline knowledge regarding the signs, symptoms and risk factors of stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected in Northern Ireland from 892 adults using a self-completed questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, the results indicate that respondents appeared knowledgeable about the risk factors of stroke but their recognition of the warning signs was poor. In addition, approximately half of those surveyed would not contact the ambulance service in the case of a suspected stroke but instead would make initial contact with their general practitioner (41.5%) or family/relatives (2.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the importance of early hospital presentation for effective stroke rehabilitation, these findings are of particular concern in a community where the death rate from stroke is one of the highest in Europe. Future health education campaigns should provide accurate and appropriate information regarding the warning signs of stroke and highlight the importance of early hospital presentation.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nursing Research, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK. K.Parahoo@ulster.ac.uk
authors.forename: Kader
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parahoo
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stringer
authors.forename: Edel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ennis
authors.forename: Paddy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McCollam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011897:Random Allocation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*