title: Perception of recurrent stroke risk among black, white and Hispanic ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack survivors: the SWIFT study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Risk modification through behavior change is critical for primary and secondary stroke prevention. Theories of health behavior identify perceived risk as an important component to facilitate behavior change; however, little is known about perceived risk of vascular events among stroke survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The SWIFT (Stroke Warning Information and Faster Treatment) study includes a prospective population-based ethnically diverse cohort of ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack survivors. We investigate the baseline relationship between demographics, health beliefs, and knowledge on risk perception. Regression models examined predictors of inaccurate perception.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 20% accurately estimated risk, 10% of the participants underestimated risk, and 70% of the 817 study participants significantly overestimated their risk for a recurrent stroke. The mean perceived likelihood of recurrent ischemic stroke in the next 10 years was 51 ± 7%. We found no significant differences by race-ethnicity with regard to accurate estimation of risk. Inaccurate estimation of risk was associated with attitudes and beliefs [worry (p < 0.04), fatalism (p < 0.07)] and memory problems (p < 0.01), but not history or knowledge of vascular risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper provides a unique perspective on how factors such as belief systems influence risk perception in a diverse population at high stroke risk. There is a need for future research on how risk perception can inform primary and secondary stroke prevention.
authors: Department of Neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA. bb87@columbia.edu
authors: Bernadette
authors: B
authors: Boden-Albala
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Carman
authors: Megan
authors: M
authors: Moran
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: Doyle
authors: Myunghee C
authors: MC
authors: Paik
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology