Background: Stroke is a major public health problem resulting in
permanent disability among the adults. The outcome is often determined by the awareness of the patients, their relatives and general public. This study was mainly taken up to assess the awareness of the general public regarding awareness and the outcome among the general public regarding stroke. Materials and Methods: A community based cross sectional study was undertaken in the field practice areas of department of community medicine, Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga. About 520 participants were randomly chosen and administered with the predesigned proforma. Results: The awareness was higher in males, those aged between 41–60 years, Hindus and from urban areas had the awareness regarding organ affected during the time of stroke. Most of the males, aged between
41–60 years, Hindus and equal from rural and urban areas had awareness regarding symptoms of stroke. The awareness regarding risk factors of stroke were present in males, subjects aged between 41–60 years, Hindus and study subjects from the rural areas. About 66.9% of the study subjects opined that the patient should be taken to the hospital immediately after the event. About 68.1% of the study subjects didn’t knew about the treatment of stroke. The critical hour for admitting the patient to hospital was more than 2 hours in 68.5% of the study subjects. Conclusion: The awareness regarding the symptoms and risk factors of stroke was lower in the study group which requires increase in intensity of health education programs.