Background and purpose: To date, no large study has been conducted to investigate baseline stroke awareness within a nationally representative sample of the Korean population.
Methods: A total of 1000 residents were randomly sampled according to regional demographic characteristics and were interviewed in person by trained interviewers. Structured, open-ended and close-ended questions were asked to assess stroke awareness.
Results: Among the respondents, 62% reported at least 1 stroke symptom and 56% reported at least 1 risk factor for stroke in open-ended questioning. Multivariate analysis revealed that completion of ≥12 years of education was independently associated with knowledge of symptoms (OR, 1.527; 95% CI, 1.146-2.034) and risk factors (OR, 1.577; 95% CI, 1.175-2.115). Approximately 31% and 33% of respondents, respectively, had some knowledge of thrombolysis and the proper action (call emergency medical services). Compared with subjects aged 20 to 39 years, those aged 40 to 59 years were more knowledgeable about thrombolysis (OR, 1.433; 95% CI, 1.045-1.964) and proper action (OR, 2.291; 95% CI, 1.646-3.188). The major source of information about stroke was television (59%), and the most reliable source was the respondents' physicians (55%). Among respondents 20 to 39 years of age, the Internet (37%) was the second greatest source of information.
Conclusions: Stroke awareness was suboptimal in Korea, especially among younger citizens and those with less education. To improve their knowledge, physicians should exert greater efforts to educate the public about stroke using mass media and the Internet.