Healthcare professionals' knowledge of modifiable stroke risk factors: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey in greater Gaborone, Botswana

Background - Stroke remains the second leading cause of deaths and disability globally, with highest mortality in Africa (low- and middle-income countries). It is crucial for healthcare professionals to have sufficient stroke risk factors' knowledge in order to reduce the stroke burden. Aims - We investigated healthcare professionals' knowledge of modifiable stroke risk factors, and identified demographic factors influencing this knowledge. Methods - In this cross-sectional survey study from Botswana (upper middle-income country), structured questionnaires reflecting recent stroke guidelines were administered to a representative selection of healthcare workers in greater Gaborone. The response rate was 61.4%, comprising 84 doctors, 227 nurses and 33 paramedics. Categorical data were described using percentages and Chi-square tests. Associations between stroke risk factors' knowledge and demographic factors were analyzed with one-way ANOVA using SPSS 25 statistical software. Results - Awareness rate of individual stroke risk factors was highest for hypertension (96.5%), followed by obesity (93.3%), smoking (91.9%), elevated total cholesterol (91.0%), physical inactivity (83.4%), elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (81.1%), excessive alcohol drinking (77.0%), and lowest for diabetes (73.3%). For all-8 risk factors, doctors had the highest knowledge, followed by nurses and paramedics lowest (7.11 vs 6.85 vs 6.06, P < 0.05)

Public and outpatients’ awareness of calling emergency medical services immediately by acute stroke in an upper middle-income country: a cross-sectional questionnaire study in greater Gaborone, Botswana

Objectives In this cross-sectional study from Botswana, we investigated awareness of calling emergency medical services (EMS) and seeking immediate medical assistance by acute stroke among stroke risk outpatients and public. Method Closed-ended questionnaires on awareness of calling EMS and seeking immediate medical assistance by acute stroke, were administered by research assistants to a representative selection of outpatients and public. Results The response rate was 96.0% (93.0% for public (2013) and 96.6% for outpatients (795)). Public respondents had mean age of 36.1 ± 14.5 years (age range 18–90 years) and 54.5% were females, while outpatients had mean age of 37.4 ± 12.7 years (age range 18–80 years) and 58.1% were females. Awareness of calling EMS (78.3%), and of seeking immediate medical assistance (93.1%) by stroke attack was adequate. For calling EMS by acute stroke, outpatients had higher awareness than the public (p < 0.05) among those with unhealthy diet (90.9% vs 71.1%), family history of both stroke and heart diseases (90.7% vs 61.2%), no history of psychiatric diseases (93.2% vs 76.0%) and sedentary lifestyle (87.5% vs 74.8%). Predictors of low awareness of both calling EMS and seeking immediate medical assistance were no medical insurance, residing/working together, history of psychiatric diseases, and normal weight. Male gender, ≥50 years age, primary education, family history of both stroke and heart diseases, current smoking, no history of HIV/AIDS, and light physical activity were predictors of low awareness of need for calling EMS. Conclusion Results call for educational campaigns on awareness of calling EMS and seeking immediate medical assistance among those with high risk factor levels