Perceptions of stroke in the general public and patients with stroke: a qualitative study

Objectives To gain insight into people's thoughts on stroke and to inform the development of educational strategies in the community. Design Focus group discussions: two groups of people who had a stroke and their carers, and two groups of members of the general public. Setting New South Wales, Australia. Participants 35 people participated: 11 from the general public, 14 people who had had a stroke, and 10 carers or partners. Main outcome measures Views on risk factors, symptoms, treatment, information resources, and prevention. Results All groups reported similar knowledge of risk factors. People generally mentioned stress, diet, high blood pressure, age, and smoking as causes of stroke. Participants in die community group gave little attention to symptoms. Some participants who had had a stroke did not initially identify their experience as stroke because the symptoms were not the same as those they had read about. There were mixed feelings about the extent of involvement in management decisions during hospital admission. Some felt sufficiently involved, some wanted to be more involved, and others felt incapable of being actively involved. Conclusions Symptoms of stroke are not easy to recognise because they vary so much. Presentation of information about stroke by hospital and community health services should be improved. Simple and understandable educational materials should be developed and their effectiveness monitored.