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Stroke knowledge in Italy

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Abstract

Stroke knowledge improves public behavior in terms of prevention, symptom recognition, and timely response. Contemporary data on stroke awareness in the Italian general population are lacking. This study surveyed public knowledge of risk factors, warning signs, and proper reactions to stroke among Italian adults. A population-based telephone survey was carried out in a sample of 1,000 residents aged ≥18 years in May–June 2010. The questionnaire included close-ended questions focused on stroke symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options. We examined the prevalence and distribution of stroke knowledge in the community and generated multivariable logistic regression models. Among the 1,000 participants (481 men, mean age 48.8 ± 17.2), only the 55.8 % correctly identified the brain as the affected organ in stroke. The most common risk factor for stroke identified by respondents was hypertension (67.6 %), the most common warning sign was hemiparesis (68.7 %), the 43.5 % could list >1 warning sign. Multivariate analyses indicate that education and previous stroke experience are the only independent predictors of stroke knowledge. Only 26.2 % reported to know about the availability of t-PA treatment. An ambulance would be called by 59 % of respondents in the event of a stroke. Respondents with a high level of education are more likely to call an ambulance in case of stroke. This study provides the first comprehensive data describing stroke knowledge among Italian adults: the general level is suboptimal and is associated only with education and previous family experience of stroke. Public education could potentially improve treatment and prevention.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mrs. Della Santa for preparing the manuscript. This study was supported by the Italian Health Ministry, Project “Promozione dell’assistenza all’ictus cerebrale in Italia” CCM, Grant Capitolo n. 4393/2007.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Neuroscience, Italian National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano, 10-50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy

    Marzia Baldereschi & Antonio Di Carlo

  2. Fondazione CENSIS, Rome, Italy

    Concetta Vaccaro

  3. Health Ministry, Center Disease Control, Rome, Italy

    Biancamaria Polizzi

  4. NEUROFARBA Department, Neuroscience-Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Domenico Inzitari

Authors
  1. Marzia Baldereschi
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  2. Antonio Di Carlo
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  3. Concetta Vaccaro
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  4. Biancamaria Polizzi
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  5. Domenico Inzitari
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Consortia

The Promotion Implementation of Stroke Care in Italy Project Working Group

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marzia Baldereschi.

Additional information

The members of ‘The Promotion Implementation of Stroke Care in Italy Project Working Group’ are listed in Appendix.

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Appendix

Appendix

Promotion and Implementation of Stroke Care in Italy Project Working Group. Coordinators: D. Inzitari (NEUROFARBA Department, Neuroscience Section, University of Florence, Italy); B. Polizzi (Center Disease Control, Health Ministry, Rome, Italy). Participants (in alphabetic order): M. Baldereschi (Institute of Neurosciences, Italian National Research Council, Florence, Italy); L. Candelise (Professor of Neurology, Milan, Italy); D. Consoli (Dept. Neurology, Jazzolino Hospital,Vibo Valentia, Italy); A. Di Carlo (Institute of Neurosciences, Italian National Research Council, Florence, Italy); C. Fieschi (Professor of Neurology, Sapienza, University of Rome, Italy); D. Guidetti (Neurology Department, Saliceto Hospital, Piacenza, Italy); L. Provinciali (Neurological Clinic, Dept. Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy); M. Rasura (S. Andrea Hospital Stroke Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza, University of Rome, Italy); M.L. Sacchetti (Dept. of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza, University of Rome, Italy); M. Silvestrini (Neurological Clinic, Dept. Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy; D. Toni (Emergency Department Stroke Unit, Sapienza, University of Rome, Italy).

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Baldereschi, M., Di Carlo, A., Vaccaro, C. et al. Stroke knowledge in Italy. Neurol Sci 36, 415–421 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-014-1964-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-014-1964-5

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