Abstract
Background: Stroke remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite this, awareness of stroke is alarmingly low, particularly among university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the level of stroke knowledge and preparedness among university students, focusing on symptoms, risk factors, and preparedness. Results: Health-related majors scored higher on stroke knowledge (p < 0.001), while symptom recognition and initial management is non-superior compared to other majors. Multivariate analysis showed health-related majors were more likely to have adequate knowledge of stroke symptoms [OR = 5.60, 95% CI = 3.17 – 10.14, p < 0.001]. Previous exposure to training was associated with higher stroke awareness [OR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.46 – 4.58, p = 0.0018]. Conclusions: Students display comprehensive yet dissatisfactory stroke awareness, particularly in recognizing less obvious symptoms. Enhanced university-based stroke awareness programs could be instrumental in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with delayed stroke response.
