Background: Cerebrovascular diseases are the cause of disability and loss of ability to conduct normal daily life. Educating people about strokes should be a good way to prevent or decrease the incidence of the diseases, or, if the diseases occur, it should assist in lessening both economic and social impact. The present study aimed to study the effect of educating campaign on the knowledge of cerebrovascular diseases to people in rural areas.
Material and Methods: The study was conducted in people who lived in Na-ngew Sub-district, Khao Suan Kwang District,
Khon Kaen Province during November to December 2010. The participants were assessed in their knowledge of stroke using
questionnaire twice, before and after the training. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: the personal data and the knowledge assessment part. The latter was composed of 38 questions on the knowledge and practices of stroke. 19 questions out of these were related to risk factors, 11 were related to the symptoms and warning signs, and 8 were related to knowledge on transient ischemic attack [TIA] and practices.
Results: Of the 579 participants, 79 percent were females. The average age was 49+16 years, and 92 percent had not had previous stroke. Participants’ knowledge related to stroke increased significantly after the training at the p<0.001 level, on risk factors, symptoms and warning signs, transient ischemic attack [TIA] and practices. Although the scores increased; when considering each question item, it was found that the knowledge for risk factors in sex, life style, and dyslipidemia were still low, i.e., 13.8, 31.8, and 51.3 percent respectively and 90 percent understood that chest pain is a symptom of stroke. Only 30.4% called the emergency number 1669 in case of a stroke patient showing symptoms.
Conclusion: Research participants were better informed of stroke in terms of risk factors, symptoms and warning signs,
transient ischemic attack [TIA], and practices when seeing someone showing the stroke symptom after the training.

Keywords: Cerebrovascular disease, Rural, Educating campaign