Stroke awareness and response among university students in Jordan and Syria: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: Stroke is a leading cause of death worldwide. Early symptom recognition and awareness of risk factors are crucial for prompt treatment and prevention. University students in Jordan and Syria represent a key demographic for health education; however, their knowledge of stroke is not well-documented. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of stroke among Jordanian and Syrian undergraduate students and to identify the factors associated with adequate stroke awareness in this group. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 529 undergraduate students from major public universities in Jordan and Syria. Data was collected using a validated 20-item Arabic Stroke Knowledge Questionnaire. Adequate knowledge was defined as scoring ≥ 50% correct answers. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall, 66.7% of students demonstrated adequate stroke knowledge. Significant independent predictors of higher knowledge were: Syrian nationality (OR = 3.1, p < 0.001), living with family (OR = 1.9, p = 0.031), female gender (OR = 1.4, p = 0.013), and personally knowing someone affected by stroke (OR = 1.4, p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Although two-thirds of students have basic stroke knowledge, important gaps remain in recognizing acute symptoms (e.g., sudden numbness or confusion), in understanding modifiable risk factors, and in precise medical/scientific knowledge about stroke, which may delay emergency care and hinder prevention. Targeted, evidence‑based educational campaigns especially for students without personal stroke exposure are needed to turn knowledge into lifesaving action and reduce the future burden of stroke.