Informing Policy for Reducing Stroke Health Disparities from the Experience of African-American Male Stroke Survivors

Overview

Journal J Racial Ethn Health Disparities

Specialties Public Health
Social Sciences

Date 2016 Jun 14

PMID 27294742

Citations 3

Authors

Adam Perzynski

Carol Blixen

Jamie Cage

Kari Colon-Zimmermann

Martha Sajatovic

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The burden of stroke is severe among African-Americans. Despite overall declines in the rate of stroke since 2000, outcomes are largely unimproved or have worsened for African-American men. Adverse psychosocial challenges may hinder adherence to a regimen of risk factor reduction.

Methods And Results: Focus group analysis was combined with a review of current published guidelines and epidemiologic evidence on risk factors to better understand stroke health disparities and potential policy solutions. Transcripts from three focus groups with ten African-American male stroke survivors under age 65 and their care partners (N = 7) were analyzed and compared with existing published data on (a) the burden of stroke (b) trends in clinical risk factors, and (c) trends in behavioral risk factors. Participants described myriad psychosocial barriers that impede reduction of risk indicators, including low trust in providers, poor social support, access difficulties, depression, and distress.

Conclusions: In order to be effective, policies and programs must target mechanisms consistent with the challenges faced by African-American men. Infrastructure is needed to better identify and share practices effective for improving cardiovascular outcomes within specific racial and ethnic groups.

Citing Articles

Stroke Experiences and Unmet Needs of Individuals of African Descent Living in High-Income Economy Countries: a Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.

Singh H, Fakembe S, Brown R, Cameron J, Nelson M, Kokorelias K J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2023; 11(5):2608-2626.

PMID: 37523144 PMC: 11481687. DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01725-z.

The Targeted Management (TEAM) Intervention for Reducing Stroke Risk in African American Men: Rationale and Study Design of a Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

Still C, Burant C, Moore S, Einstadter D, Killion C, Modlin C J Multidiscip Healthc. 2021; 14:513-522.

PMID: 33654407 PMC: 7914069. DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S288753.

Power of Peer Support to Change Health Behavior to Reduce Risks for Heart Disease and Stroke for African American Men in a Faith-Based Community.

Lee S, Schorr E, Niakosari Hadidi N, Kelley R, Treat-Jacobson D, Lindquist R J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2018; 5(5):1107-1116.

PMID: 29392680 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-018-0460-7.

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