Level of Knowledge About Stroke Among Undergraduate Medical Students Who Are Part of a Neuroscience Interest Group at the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla.

Abstract

Introduction. Cerebrovascular disease, also known as stroke, has been recorded as the fourth leading cause of death in the general population of Mexico and the third leading cause among people over 65 years of age. Therefore, it is important to find strategies to improve its management, involving adequate education starting at the undergraduate level and continuous evaluation at each stage of medical training. Mission Brain BUAP, a neuroscience interest group, emerged during the pandemic as an alternative for teaching neuroscience at the undergraduate level through different approaches: virtual classes, practical workshops, and hospital rotations.

Objectives. To assess the level of knowledge about stroke among medical students who are part of the neuroscience interest group at the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla.

Methodology. Out of 79 students who are part of Mission Brain BUAP, 25 completed a questionnaire adapted from a validated instrument to assess their level of knowledge about stroke. Information was collected on age, gender, length of membership, academic status, and self-perceived level of knowledge (low, medium, or high). To assess the participants’ actual knowledge level, Likert-scale-based questions were used, with scores ranging from 1 to 5. The knowledge levels were classified as follows: high (20–25), medium (14–19), and low (less than 13).

Results. Among respondents, 60% were women and 40% men, aged between 19 and 26 years, ranging from 3rd-semester students to graduates. Of these, 16% had been part of the chapter since 2022, 16% since 2023, 28% since 2024, and 40% since 2025. Regarding self-perception: 8% considered their knowledge about stroke to be low, 80% medium, and 12% high. The evaluation found that 68% had a high level and 32% a medium level of knowledge about stroke.

Conclusions. Students of Mission Brain BUAP have a medium to high level of knowledge, with a greater tendency toward the high level, reflecting that effective learning strategies have been provided.