Percepção de usuários de uma estratégia de saúde da família sobre acidente vascular encefálico

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the world, killing about 6.2 million people every year. In Brazil, it is one of the main causes of hospital admissions and mortality, resulting in patients with partial or total neurological deficiencies that make it difficult to independently perform activities of daily living. In this study, we demonstrated that the interviewed population, a community that uses a Family Health Strategy (ESF) of Uruguaiana/RS, presents a lack of knowledge regarding both prevention and initial care of the affected patient. The sample consisted of 20 participants, 80% female and 20% male, with a mean age of 47 years, all users enrolled in the FHT in research, who already sought some kind of care in the establishment. A semi-structured interview script was used, with questions addressing the individuals' knowledge about the stroke, such as initial care, signs and symptoms, among others. The results showed that the population studied has some knowledge about stroke, but it lacks some important information, both regarding the ways of prevention and the initial care needed for the patient affected by stroke. These results are important for guiding actions of scientific dissemination in primary care, since in addition to being able to reduce the occurrence rates of the disease and also to reduce post-event sequelae, through the rapid care, they can also minimize hospital admission costs. Key-words: Stroke. Knowledge. Care. Nursing. Disease prevention.