Korean Circ J.  2011 May;41(5):259-264. 10.4070/kcj.2011.41.5.259.

Knowledge of Stroke and Heart Attack Symptoms and Risk Factors Among Rural Elderly People: A Questionnaire Survey

• Kim EM
• Hwang SY
• Kim AL

• KMID: 2297933
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2011.41.5.259

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
To determine the level of knowledge of stroke and heart attack (HA) symptoms and risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in rural elderly people who are at risk for CVD.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
A total of 444 adults over the age of 60 living in a rural province of Korea with at least one CVD risk factor participated in this survey.
RESULTS
A total of 72.5% of the participants had hypertension and 28.4% had diabetes, whereas approximately 40% exhibited over two CVD risk factors. The mean knowledge scores for HA symptoms (4.3/9) were lower than scores for stroke symptoms (5.8/9), and the mean knowledge score for risk factors was 7.3/11. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that old age, low level of education, and low income level were the determining factors for low knowledge levels of stroke and HA symptoms as well as CVD risk factors. A low perceived risk of stroke or HAs also predicted a low knowledge of CVD risk factors.
CONCLUSION
Community-wide public campaigns are needed, which are designed to help elderly people in rural areas with low education levels and socioeconomic status at risk for CVD to improve the awareness of stroke and HA.

Keyword

Cardiovascular diseases; Aged; Signs and symptoms; Risk factors; Knowledge

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Cardiovascular Diseases
Heart
Humans
Hypertension
Korea
Risk Factors
Social Class
Stroke
Surveys and Questionnaires

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