Table 4 Factor structure of the final version of SPDBI

Sub-domain 1: stroke warning signs

V1.Inconsistent in thinking and language; answers to the problems such as time and place are unclear; restlessness

0.777

V2.When asleep, intense stimulation is required to wake up; answers are irrelevant or vague; when stimulation is stopped, fall asleep quickly

0.737

V3.Can be awakened and was able to answer simple questions, but slowly, then continued to sleep when stimulation stopped

0.737

V4.Weakness, heaviness, or numbness on one side of the limb

0.722

V5.Vertigo (see rotation ), blacked out

0.720

V6.Severe headache, vomiting, neck stiffness, neck pain

0.685

V7.Double vision on one side of the eyes

0.673

V8.Clear pronunciation, but of incorrect and ambiguous words

0.658

V9.Blurred vision on one side of the eyes

0.624

Sub-domain 2: non-treatment justification

V10.Don’t go to the hospital because the results are the same whether or not you go

0.793

V11.Don’t go to the hospital because it is too much trouble

0.783

V12.Don’t go to the hospital because worried about added burden to family.

0.780

V13.Don’t go to the hospital because symptoms are from being old and weak

0.762

V14.Don’t go to the hospital because body is usually ok and symptoms are no big deal.

0.754

V15.Patient will soon recover and symptoms are nothing important

0.720

V16.Patient will first rest and see how they feel since the weather is bad

0.641

V17.I will wait since there is no one around to help me

0.613

Sub-domain 3: symptom attributions

V18.Sudden weakness, heaviness, or numbness on one side of the limb is just recent tiredness

0.671

V19.Sudden blurred vision in one or both eyes is from excessive eye use

0.661

V20.Weakness, clumsiness on one side of the limb in the morning, because pressure to stay in bed

0.644

V21.Sudden headache and dizziness are caused by a cold

0.530

Sub-domain 4: habitual response style

V22.My first thought is to have a rest at onset of symptoms

0.692

V23.My first thought is to take some medicine at onset of symptoms

0.768

V24.If my symptoms don’t improve(or worsen),then I will go to the hospital

0.613

Sub-domain 5: emergency system use

V25.Don’t call an ambulance because of the high cost

0.721

V26.I can’t think to call an ambulance at first

0.683

V27.I chose a Chinese medicine hospital suggested by an acquaintance

0.606

Total scale

53.447%