Stroke knowledge among diabetics: a cross-sectional study on the influence of age, gender, education, and migration status

Knowledge, Prevention Practice and Associated Factors of Stroke Among Hypertensive and Diabetic Patients - A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Because of the inadequate level of public awareness of the disease, the incidence of stroke has been sharply rising. Eventually, due to the prehospital delay, many stroke cases could not be eligible for thrombolysis thereby poor rehabilitative outcome has been tremendously increased. Thus, this study aimed to review the level of knowledge, prevention practice, and associated factors of stroke among hypertensive and diabetic patients.

METHODS

A systematic review of primarily published articles (2010-2020) related to knowledge and prevention practices of stroke was performed by searching online electronic databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Refseek, Science direct, ResearchGate, and manual Google search by using the keywords and MeSH terms. Studies conducted on knowledge and prevention practices amongst hypertensive and/or diabetic patients were included.

RESULTS

Out of 531 searched studies, 42 articles were identified to be reviewed. The reported overall knowledge of stroke was ranging from 4.4% to 79%. Knowledge to the signs/symptoms of stroke was 23.6% to 87%. However, 15% to 77% of subjects were also reported that they did not know any sign of stroke. The range of risk factor knowledge was 10.5% to 86.6%. The reported level of stroke prevention practice was 2.4% to 72% but physical activity and weight reduction practice were relatively low. Inadequate level of knowledge and prevention practice of stroke was related to elderly, female gender, uneducated, unmarried, rural residents, economically low, comorbidity and unemployed individuals.

CONCLUSION

The current finding revealed that the level of knowledge and prevention practice of stroke was inadequate. Hence, the finding highlights health educational programs should be planned as an important avenue to enhance stroke awareness among the high-risk populations.

Very early cognitive screening and return to work after stroke

Background: Stroke is a common cause of long-term disability worldwide, and an increasing number of persons affected by stroke are of working age. In addition to physical impairments, a majority of patients reportedly suffer cognitive impairments after stroke. Reduced cognitive function may hinder poststroke return to work (RTW); however, most studies of this relationship have assessed cognitive function months after the stroke.Objectives: The current study aims to investigate the degree of post-stroke RTW, and whether very early cognitive function screening can predict RTW after a stroke.Methods: This study included 145 persons treated for stroke at 18-63 years of age at a large university hospital in Sweden between 2011 and 2016. Data were retrieved from the GOTVED database. Within 36-48 h after hospital admission, cognitive function was screened using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Full and partial RTW were assessed based on the Swedish Social Insurance Agency's register. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the potential predictors of RTW at 6 months and 18 months.Results: Neither global cognitive function nor executive function at 36-48 h after stroke predicted any degree of RTW at 6 or 18 months. Male sex, lower stroke severity, and not being on sick leave prior to stroke were significant predictors of RTW.Conclusions: Screening for cognitive impairments at 36-48-h post stroke is apparently too early for predicting RTW, and thus cannot be the sole basis for discharge planning after stroke. Additional research is needed to further analyze cognitive function early after stroke and RTW.

The Two-Arm Coordination Test: Maturation of Bimanual Coordination in Typically Developing Children and Deficits in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Background: Tools to assess bimanual coordination are scant. We aimed to: 1) provide normative data of maturation of bimanual coordination in tipically developing (TD) children measured by the Two Arm Coordination Test (TACT), and 2) validate the TACT as an instrument to specifically discriminate impairment of bimanual coordination in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP). Procedure: Cross-sectional observational study. 252 TD children and 26 children with UCP performed 8 trials of TACT (following a star pattern with a pointer steered by coordinated movements of both arms). Number of errors and time were combined in a performance index of motor learning.Results: In TD children, bimanual coordination improved with age (F(7,244)=36.888, p<.001). Children with UCP had a poorer bimanual coordination than TD children (all t>24.25, all p<.01). TACT scores were correlated moderately to manual dexterity and manual ability (all r>-.452, all p<.039), showing the capacity of the TACT to provide information on different aspects of hand function. Conclusion: TACT is a valid instrument to assess bimanual coordination.

Distinguishing logopenic from semantic & nonfluent variant primary progressive aphasia: Patterns of linguistic and behavioral correlations

While language characteristics of logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA) are well-defined, behavioral characteristics are less understood. We investigated correlations between language and behavioral scores across three variants of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and found language performance and behavioral disturbances are correlated in lvPPA, but not other PPA subtypes. Results suggest that unlike other PPA variants, patients diagnosed with lvPPA do not develop negative behaviors until language deficits are severe. This is consistent with the underlying neuropathology of lvPPA, Alzheimer's Disease. Such findings are crucial to clinical prognosis, especially when considering the progressive nature of this disease.

Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms Knowledge of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the United States: Findings From the National Health Interview Survey

Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHPI) suffer disproportionate rates of death from heart attack and stroke; however, little is known about NHPI heart attack and stroke symptoms knowledge. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine associations between heart attack and stroke symptoms knowledge and electronic health (eHealth) use, education, engaging in health risk behaviors, and having an at-risk diagnosis or a past heart attack and/or stroke. The analytic sample included 2,172 NHPI adults responding to the 2014 NHPI-National Health Interview Survey. NHPI reported moderate to high levels of heart attack and stroke symptoms knowledge. NHPI with an at-risk diagnosis were significantly more likely to know three of five heart attack symptoms. Engaging in health risk behaviors increased the odds of knowing one heart attack symptom. Neither a prior heart attack nor a prior stroke increased the likelihood of recognizing most symptoms of heart attack or stroke. eHealth use was associated with increased likelihood for knowing heart attack and stroke symptoms. The findings of this study can be used to inform interventions that support the Healthy People 2020 goals to increase the proportion of adults who are aware of the symptoms of heart attack and stroke and to reduce heart attack and stroke disparities.

Knowledge of HPV and Surgery among Women Who Underwent Cervical Conization: A Korean Multi-Center Study

PURPOSE

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a well-known cause of cervical cancer, which, along with its precursors, can be diagnosed and treated with cervical conization (CC). This study aimed to assess HPV- and procedure-related knowledge among women who had undergone CC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between February and May 2014, consecutive women who had undergone CC at five different educational hospitals were recruited. All patients had undergone a loop electrosurgical excision procedure as the method of CC. A survey was conducted with a self-developed, 29-item questionnaire, measuring knowledge related to HPV and CC. We analyzed the responses of 160 patients who completed the questionnaire.

RESULTS

Mean total knowledge scores (±standard deviation) for HPV and CC were 5.2±3.0 of a possible 13.0 and 8.3±4.2 of a possible 16.0, respectively. While 73% of the patients knew that HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer, only 44% knew that HPV is sexually transmitted. The purpose of CC was correctly identified by 71% of the patients. However, 35% failed to indicate the anatomical area resected at the time of CC in the schematic diagram. Women who were younger (p<0.001), had higher education level (p<0.001), and higher family income (p=0.008) had higher knowledge scores. In contrast, neither interval from CC to survey nor disease severity were associated with total knowledge score.

CONCLUSION

The level of knowledge related to HPV and CC was unexpectedly low in women who had undergone CC. Intuitive educational resources may improve this knowledge, and further cohort studies are warranted.