title: Developing a culturally tailored stroke prevention walking programme for Korean immigrant seniors: a focus group study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To gain better understanding of (i) beliefs and knowledge about stroke; (ii) attitudes about walking for stroke prevention; and (iii) barriers and facilitators to walking among Korean seniors for the cultural tailoring of a stroke prevention walking programme.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for stroke. Korean immigrant seniors are one of the most sedentary ethnic groups in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  An explorative study using focus group data. Twenty-nine Korean immigrant seniors (64-90 years of age) who had been told by a doctor at least once that their blood pressure was elevated participated in 3 focus groups. Each focus group consisted of 8-11 participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus group audiotapes were transcribed and analysed using standard content analysis methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants identified physical and psychological imbalances (e.g. too much work and stress) as the primary causes of stroke. Restoring 'balance' was identified as a powerful means of stroke prevention. A subset of participants expressed that prevention may be beyond human control. Overall, participants acknowledged the importance of walking for stroke prevention, but described barriers such as lack of personal motivation and unsafe environment. Many participants believed that providing opportunities for socialisation while walking and combining walking with health information sessions would facilitate participation in and maintenance of a walking programme.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Korean immigrant seniors believe strongly that imbalance is a primary cause of stroke. Restoring balance as a way to prevent stroke is culturally special among Koreans and provides a conceptual base in culturally tailoring our stroke prevention walking intervention for Korean immigrant seniors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A stroke prevention walking programme for Korean immigrant seniors may have greater impact by addressing beliefs about stroke causes and prevention such as physical and psychological imbalances and the importance of maintaining emotional well-being.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine/Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ivy
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine/Division of General Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Emiley
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine/Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Araiza
authors.affiliation: St. Barnabas Senior Services, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Carol Lee
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Thorpe
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine/Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sarkisian
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian; D002140:California; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057185:Sedentary Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016138:Walking
keywords: Asian Americans; culturally competent health care; focus group; prevention; stroke; walking