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Awareness of Stroke Signs and Symptoms and Calling 9-1-1 Among US Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2009 and 2014
ORIGINAL RESEARCH — Volume 16 — June 20, 2019
PEER REVIEWED
Figure 1.
Prevalence of stroke symptom awareness, National Health Interview Survey, 2009 and 2014. Stroke symptom awareness was assessed with the question, “Which of the following would you say are the symptoms that someone may be having a stroke?” Response options were numbness of face, arm, leg, or side; confusion or trouble speaking; sudden trouble seeing; trouble walking; and sudden severe headache. Analyses were conducted using t test for difference in prevalence from 2009 to 2014 and adjusted for sex, age, race/ethnicity, and education.
| Response | 2009 | 2014 | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| % (95% Confidence Interval) | |||
| Numbness of face, arm, leg, or side | 87.1 (86.4–87.7) | 93.7 (93.3–94.1) | <.001 |
| Confusion or trouble speaking | 85.1 (84.5–85.8) | 92.8 (92.4–93.2) | <.001 |
| Sudden trouble seeing | 71.4 (70.5–72.2) | 82.9 (82.3–83.4) | <.001 |
| Trouble walking | 83.4 (82.7–84.0) | 90.0 (89.6–90.5) | <.001 |
| Sudden severe headache | 65.4 (64.5–66.3) | 76.1 (75.4–76.7) | <.001 |
Figure 2.
Prevalence of knowledge of Healthy People 2020 heart disease and stroke objectives 17.1–17.3, National Health Interview Survey, 2009 and 2014. Knowledge of all 5 stroke symptoms (ie, numbness of face, arm, leg, or side; confusion or trouble speaking; sudden trouble seeing; trouble walking; and sudden severe headache) was assessed with the question, “Which of the following would you say are the symptoms that someone may be having a stroke?” Awareness of the importance of calling 911 was assessed with the question, “If you thought someone was having a stroke, what is the best thing to do right away?” Participants were defined as aware if they answered, “Call 911 or other emergency number.” Recommended stroke knowledge was defined as correct identification of all 5 stroke symptoms and knowing the importance of calling 911 or other emergency number. Analyses were conducted using t test for difference in prevalence from 2009 to 2014 and adjusted for sex, age, race/ethnicity, and education.
| Response | 2009 | 2014 | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| % (95% Confidence Interval) | |||
| All 5 symptoms | 54.1 (53.1–55.0) | 68.3 (67.5–69.1) | <.001 |
| Call 9-1-1 | 92.8 (92.3–93.3) | 95.3 (94.8–95.7) | <.001 |
| All 5 symptoms + call 9-1-1 | 51.5 (50.5–52.5) | 66.2 (65.4–67.0) | <.001 |
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