Knowledge, attitude, and practice in relation to stroke: A community-based study from Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
BACKGROUND
The rising incidence of stroke in India indicates the importance of evaluating the existing knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) in the community, which is essential for stroke control.


OBJECTIVE
To explore and compare stroke-related KAP among participants from stroke-affected families (SAFs) and nonstroke-affected families (NSFs).


METHODS
Using stratified random sampling, a three-phase house-to-house survey was conducted in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. First, field investigators screened subjects of stroke; second, the neurologist confirmed positive cases; and third, under supervision of the neuropsychologist, a validated questionnaire on KAP was administered to participants from SAFs and age-matched NSAFs from the same neighborhood.


RESULTS
The KAP questionnaire was administered to 282 participants each from both groups. Knowledge about stroke prevailed in 97% participants and was significantly higher in the SAF group. Both SAF and NSAF groups had better knowledge about prominent symptoms of stroke (loss of consciousness and paralysis) and admitted it as emergency situation requiring hospitalization and that it was potentially preventable. Those persons belonging to the SAF group, however, had lesser knowledge of the risk factors such as diabetes (P < 0.001), smoking (P < 0.014), alcoholism (P < .0.0001), family history (P < .0.0001) and mild stroke symptoms such as headache, (P < 0.001), vomiting (P < 0.001), and fits (P 0.003) as compared to the NSAF group.


CONCLUSIONS
Persons from both SAF and non-SAF groups are aware about stroke but possess lesser knowledge about the many symptoms of stroke and risk factors, indicating the necessity of enhancement of existence knowledge on symptoms for better diagnosis and of risk factors for better prevention.
Neuropsychologist, Fortis Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Sujata
S
Das
Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Avijit
A
Hazra
Department of Neurology, RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Biman Kanti
BK
Ray
Department of Psychiatry, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Malay
M
Ghosal
Department of Applied Statistics, Applied Sampling Unit, Indian Satistical Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Arijit
A
Chaudhury
Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Centre, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Tapas Kumar
TK
Banerjee
Department of Neurology, Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Shyamal Kumar
SK
Das
Attitude; India; knowledge; practice; stroke