Abstract: Objective To investigate the knowledge of stroke risk factors, early symptoms, and rehabilitation in stroke patients. Methods 1043 cases with stroke were stratified randomly sampled from 10 hospitals at different levels in Gansu, and were surveyed with self-designed questionnaire. Results For risk factors for stroke, hypertension was the most aware (61.55%), 6.42% knew all the factors. For the prevention and treatment, reasonable diet was the most aware (56.18%), followed with giving up smoking and drinking (52.92%). For the early symptoms, dysaesthesia of one side body was the most aware (53.88%), and then the headache and dizzy (50.14%). It was less than 30% to know the blurring, nausea and vomiting, and stiff tongue, etc. as the early symptoms. 60% of the patients did not know any about the rehabilitation, 22% did not know if rehabilitation be needed. 80% of the patients with stroke chose medication regardless of family income, and rehabilitation was chosen less than 30%. Conclusion It is important to popularize the knowledge of risk factors, early symptoms, and rehabilitation of stroke.

Key words: stroke, risk factors, early symptoms, rehabilitation, rate of awareness