title: Factors associated with delays in seeking treatment for stroke care in veterans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our objective was to examine the association between delay in seeking treatment (DST) for stroke care and demographic and clinical characteristics variables in a sample of veterans.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used survey data from 100 veterans with a diagnosis of stroke who were receiving poststroke care at a Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in the southeastern United States to evaluate the relationship between DST and key sample demographic and clinical characteristics. We used backward stepwise logistic regression models to assess the independent association between DST and demographic and clinical variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that stroke survivors reporting DST were more likely to be black (56.4% versus 32.8%; P = .02) and younger at the time of stroke onset (58.1 years versus 63.7 years; P = .02). In backward stepwise logistic regression models, being black was an independent predictor of DST (odds ratio [OR] 2.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-7.30; P = .04) in this veteran population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Race appears to be a key factor associated with an increased likelihood of delays in seeking urgent stroke care in veterans. Future studies need to further examine the complex sociodemographic profile of patients who are most likely to delay seeking care for stroke and to develop interventions to reduce the impact of DST.
authors.affiliation: VA Center for Disease Prevention and Health Interventions for Diverse Populations, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina; Department of Health Sciences & Research, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina. Electronic address: ellisc@musc.edu.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Rebecca G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.forename: Gregory E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Leonard E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Egede
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans