To assess stroke knowledge in the US layperson population.

A national sample of US adults were surveyed via a web-based survey using a third party polling service. The survey consisted of 15 multiple choice questions. Data were analyzed using JMP Pro 16 for the Mac. 

The majority of respondents (n= 200) recognized hypertension, diabetes, family history, obesity and smoking as being risk factors for stroke, but most did not recognize male gender or hypothyroidism. Similarly, most recognized anterior circulation signs such as unilateral weakness and speech difficulty as stroke signs, but did not think that nausea or vomiting could be signs of stroke. Only 35% had heard of tPA;  almost half the cohort thought it had to be given within 1 hour. tPA awareness was significantly correlated with having heard stroke PSAs (P<0.0001) and having personally suffered a stroke (P=0.0025), but not correlated to income or education level.18% thought tPA could be given as late as 12 hours after a stroke. 56% had never heard of mechanical thrombectomy (“sucking out the blood clot from the brain”). 64% did not know what  the time of onset of symptoms would be if someone woke up with stroke symptoms. Of the English language stoke scales out there, the one most frequently exported was the FAST (36%). 10%  admitted delaying seeking care for their stroke symptoms, for which free text responses were captured.

Despite the fact that 68% had seen stroke public service announcements on television, the general US layperson population does not have a good understanding of how to recognize signs and symptoms of stroke, or how to treat it.