title: Women's knowledge about heart disease: Differences among ethnic and cultural groups in the Israeli Women's Health in Midlife Study.
abstract: The current investigation aimed to assess levels of knowledge about risk factors for heart disease among midlife Israeli women, and to evaluate the relationship of knowledge to personal risk factors and vulnerability to heart disease. Face-to-face interviews with women aged 45-64 years were conducted during 2004-2006 within three population groups: long-term Jewish residents (LTR), immigrants from the former Soviet Union, and Arab women. The survey instrument included six knowledge statements relating to: the risk after menopause, family history, elevated cholesterol level, diabetes, obesity, and warning signs of a heart attack. The findings showed wide disparities in knowledge by educational level and between immigrants and LTR, after taking into account personal risk factors and education. Personal risk factors were not significantly related to the knowledge items, except for personal history of cardiovascular disease, which was associated with knowledge about "warning signs of a heart attack" and "family history." Women who perceived themselves as more vulnerable to heart disease were more likely to identify several risk factors correctly. These findings stress the need to increase knowledge about heart disease, especially among less educated and minority women, and to emphasize the risk of patients' personal status by health providers.
authors.affiliation: a Women and Children's Health Research Unit , The Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Ltd ., Tel Hashomer , Ramat Gan , Israel.
authors.forename: Tzvia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Blumstein
authors.affiliation: b Bob Shapell School of Social Work , Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Benyamini
authors.affiliation: a Women and Children's Health Research Unit , The Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Ltd ., Tel Hashomer , Ramat Gan , Israel.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boyko
authors.affiliation: c Women and Children's Health Research Unit , The Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Ltd. , Tel Hashomer , Ramat Gan , Israel.|d Sackler Faculty of Medicine , Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Liat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lerner-Geva
mesh_terms: D018912:Arabs / Q000208:ethnology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006304:Health Status; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D007585:Jews / Q000208:ethnology; D008593:Menopause / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014586:USSR / Q000208:ethnology; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology*
keywords: Israel; heart disease; knowledge; midlife; minorities; risk factors; vulnerability; women