Purpose: This study was conducted to test
the effect of a 5 weeks health education
program on stroke for rural elderly people.
Methods: A total of 55 rural elders in Kok
Sung County were participated in the health
education on stroke program. Descriptive
statistics, and paired t-test were used for
statistical analysis with SPSS 12.0. Results:
The results are summarized as follows : Mean
age was 67.3 years and 88.2% of participants
were female. The mean pre-test scores for
knowledge of stroke were 0.35 and post-test,
0.85 (p< .001). Percentage of accurate response
rates of warning signs of stroke were sudden
dizziness pre-test 45.5% post-test 80.0%,
sudden trouble speaking or understanding,
pre-test 27.3% post-test 41.8%, sudden trouble
walking, loss of balance or coordination, pre-test
32.7% post-test 70.9%, sudden numbness or
weakness of the arm or leg, especially on one
side of the body, pre-test 47.3% post-test
72.7%, sudden confusion, pre-test 27.3%
post-test 81.8%, sudden numbness or weakness
of the face especially on one side of the body,
pre-test 40.0% post-test 76.4%, sudden severe
headache with no known cause, pre-test 40.0%
post-test 70.9%, Sudden trouble seeing in one
or both eyes, pre-test 38.1% post-test 66.0%,
nausea or vomiting pre-test 16.4% post-test
43.6%. The increases after the health education
on stroke were statistically significant.
Conclusions: Health education on stroke for
rural elderly people are needed and should focus
on community health care programs, especially
for those who are older, had a low level of
education, and low socio-economical status.