Background:

Public knowledge, activities and practices about stroke are fundamental tools for prevention.

Purpose:

To describe the level of knowledge of stroke, risk factors, attitudes and practices among caregivers and family members.

Materials and methods:

Cross-sectional study in a high complexity institution, in 73 relatives and caregivers of patients with acute stroke, who were admitted between November 2015 and January 2017, to whom a Knowledge Attitudes and Practices (KAP) survey type instrument was applied via telephone.

Results:

The mean age of the population was 70.8 ± 13.6 years and 69.9% (n=51) were caregivers. Only 4 (age, HTN, coagulopathies and history of thrombosis) of the 17 risk factors were identified. 97.3% (n = 71) recognised facial deviation as a symptom of the disease and 91.4% (n = 66) recognised the brain as the main organ affected. The main way to prevent stroke is to control blood pressure with 54.8% (n = 40) and 42.5% (n = 31) stated that in case of witnessing a stroke they call a hospital as a first measure.

Discussion:

The findings are consistent with the literature, but more knowledge of thrombolytic therapy and risk factors is needed, as well as more education of family members and caregivers.

Conclusions:

Family members and caregivers have a low recognition of risk factors, but widely recognise the classic signs and symptoms, however, they are unaware of thrombolytic therapy, and do not attend educational meetings, nor are they interested in receiving information on stroke.

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