Public Perception of Stroke Warning Signs and Knowledge of Potential Risk Factors

Abstract
STROKE is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the United States.1 Decreasing the time from stroke onset to hospital arrival and improved control of stroke risk factors offer the greatest opportunities for effective stroke treatment and prevention, respectively. Rapid patient presentation and risk reduction depend on public knowledge of stroke warning signs and risk factors. In this study, we conducted a population-based telephone survey to assess current public knowledge of warning signs and risk factors for stroke.