Date of Conferral

2018

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Nicoletta M. Alexander

Abstract

Regardless of the advances that have been made in stroke research and treatment and the overall decrease in stroke mortality, the stroke mortality rate for African Americans is still high at 45.2/100,000 and is still the leading cause of adult disability. Knowledge of the risk factors of stroke is paramount to reducing the morbidity and mortality of stroke, but knowledge of stroke risk factors has been found to be suboptimal in the African American population. The purpose of this study was to examine if there is a relationship between the knowledge, perception, and sources of stroke information of risk factors for stroke. The theoretical framework for this study was knowledge, attitude, and practice model and the health belief model. A cross-sectional quantitative approach was used for this study, and data was obtained through in-person administration of a questionnaire to willing participants in two South District Cook County, Illinois, health centers, two churches, a barber shop, and a beauty shop. A total of 273 respondents that consisted of 42% men (n = 113) and 58% women (n = 160) provided valid responses. Chi-Square test of association showed a statistical significance between source of stroke information and previous stroke/transient ischemic attack at Ï?2 (1) = 29.133, p = 0.001. Multiple regression analysis model showed a statistically significant result of perception and stroke, F (14, 259) = 22.692, p < 0.0005. This study found that stroke education should go beyond traditional medical risk factors to also explore people's perception of preventive practices. This study will contribute to social change by providing support for targeted stroke education not only on knowledge but also perception of preventive practices in the African American population.

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