AWARENESS ON STROKE AMONG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS ATTENDING AT TEACHING HOSPITAL, BHARATPUR, CHITWAN, NEPAL

Abstract

Background: Hypertensive patients are at the risk of developing stroke. Awareness regarding stroke is essential for the prevention and initiation of immediate effective treatment of stroke. This study aimed to find out the awareness regarding stroke among hypertensive patients attending a teaching hospital.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among hypertensive patients attending Medicine Out-patient Department of Chitwan Medical College Teaching Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan. A total 95 patients were selected using convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using structured interview schedule. Obtained data were analyzed in SPSS version 20 for window using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: Result of this study revealed that out of 95 hypertensive patients, 91.6% were above age group 40 years. More than half (51.6%) of the patients had good knowledge, 32.6% had fair knowledge and 15.8% had poor knowledge regarding stroke .Overall Level of knowledge on stroke was significantly associated with sex (p=0.012) and educational status (p=0.001) of the patients.

Conclusions: The awareness of stroke among hypertensive patients attending at teaching hospital of Chitwan seems to be insufficient at present. Hence, there is need for the awareness program for the hypertensive patients on stroke to prevent potential complication associated with it.