title: Nine-year trends and racial and ethnic disparities in women's awareness of heart disease and stroke: an American Heart Association national study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends in women's awareness, knowledge, and perceptions related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) since 1997, when the American Heart Association initiated a national campaign for women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A nationally representative sample of 1,005 women identified through random digit dialing (mean age 50 years, 71% white) was surveyed in 2006, and results were compared with results of similar surveys conducted in 2003, 2000, and 1997. Awareness, knowledge, and perceptions related to CVD were evaluated using a standardized interviewer-assisted questionnaire. In 2006, awareness of heart disease as the leading cause of death among women was 57%; significantly higher than in prior surveys (p < 0.001). Awareness was lower among black and Hispanic women compared with white women (31% and 29% vs. 68%, p < 0.05), and the racial/ethnic difference has not appreciably changed over time. More than twice as many women felt uninformed about stroke compared to heart disease in 2006 (23% vs. 11%, p < 0.05). Hispanic women were more likely than white women to report that there is nothing they can do to keep themselves from getting CVD (22% vs. 11%, p < 0.05). The majority of respondents (> or = 50%) reported confusion related to basic CVD prevention strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CVD awareness has increased significantly among women since 1997, yet the racial/ethnic gap in awareness has not narrowed. Educational efforts to increase heart disease and stroke awareness should be targeted to racial/ethnic minorities, especially Hispanics. Methods to reinforce basic CVD prevention strategies are needed.
authors.affiliation: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Division of Cardiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10032.
authors.forename: Allison H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Christian
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rosamond
authors.forename: Anthony R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mosca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D020521:Stroke / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology*