title: Community physicians' knowledge of secondary prevention after ischemic stroke: a questionnaire survey in Shanxi Province, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey, conducted in Shanxi Province, China, evaluated the knowledge of community physicians of secondary prevention of ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1910 physicians practicing at 832 community-based clinics, hospitals and other care centers in 11 prefectures of Shanxi Province completed the questionnaires between 1 July and 30 September 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 90 % of participants were aware of the most common risk factors for stroke, but lifestyle-related factors were seen as of low or medium importance for secondary prevention. Only about 50 % of physicians were aware of the existence of commonly used stroke scales, and fewer said that they would use those scales in their clinical practice. There were slight differences in the responses to some of the questions on risk factors and stroke scales were associated with the physicians' gender, academic qualifications, practice duration and location. Less than half of the participants were aware of the secondary prevention recommendations included in the most recent guidelines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survey revealed a huge gap in knowledge of current guidelines for secondary prevention of ischemic stroke and TIA among the physicians surveyed. Continuing education and training of community physicians, administered as a public health program, is needed to improve the healthcare of ischemic stroke and TIA patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China. 13934161870@163.com.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, The Third People's Hospital of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China. cc517@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoyuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China. huikang123@sina.com.
authors.forename: Huijie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China. 523576653@qq.com.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China. 372313424@qq.com.
authors.forename: Lixia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China. wjtsx03@163.com.
authors.forename: Jintao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires