title: Social network types and acute stroke preparedness behavior.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Presence of informal social networks has been associated with favorable health and behaviors, but whether different types of social networks impact on different health outcomes remains largely unknown. We examined the associations of different social network types (marital dyad, household, friendship, and informal community networks) with acute stroke preparedness behavior. We hypothesized that marital dyad best matched the required tasks and is the most effective network type for this behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected in-person interview and medical record data for 1,077 adults diagnosed with stroke and transient ischemic attack. We used logistic regression analyses to examine the association of each social network with arrival at the emergency department (ED) within 3 h of stroke symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adjusting for age, race-ethnicity, education, gender, transportation type to ED and vascular diagnosis, being married or living with a partner was significantly associated with early arrival at the ED (odds ratio = 2.0, 95% confidence interval: 1.2-3.1), but no significant univariate or multivariate associations were observed for household, friendship, and community networks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The marital/partnership dyad is the most influential type of social network for stroke preparedness behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Mailman School of Public Health, New York, N.Y., USA.
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boden-Albala
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tehranifar
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stillman
authors.forename: Myunghee C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Paik