Effectiveness of a BEFAST-Based Stroke Education Module on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Among Stroke Patients at a Malaysian Tertiary Hospital: A Pre-Post Intervention Study

Stroke is a major health problem in Malaysia. Many stroke patients do not know how to recognize stroke symptoms quickly or when to seek emergency help. The BEFAST mnemonic (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time) is a simple tool to help people remember stroke warning signs. This study tests whether a single stroke education session based on BEFAST improves knowledge, attitudes, and emergency response intentions among stroke patients admitted to a Malaysian tertiary hospital. The study will use a pre-post intervention design with follow-up at one month. Participants will be the stroke patients admitted to the neurology ward. They will receive a one-hour structured education module covering BEFAST symptoms, risk factors, and the importance of reaching a hospital within 4.5 hours. Education will is delivered by doctors and nurses using presentations, pamphlets, posters, videos, and follow-up WhatsApp messages. Outcomes will be assessed using a validated questionnaire measuring knowledge, attitudes, and practices at three time points: before the intervention, immediately after, and at one month. Associations between demographic factors and outcomes will also be explored.