Stroke Knowledge in African Americans: A Narrative Review.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this review is to evaluate the state of knowledge in regard to stroke literacy in African Americans. This topic is important for assessing the specific gaps in stroke knowledge for this population, as well as to evaluate the methodology that has been used to assess stroke literacy.


METHODS
This narrative review includes studies that evaluated and reported stroke knowledge in African Americans and were published between January 2000 and October 2015.


RESULTS
Our review revealed that disparities may exist in recognition of headache and visual symptoms, knowledge of the organ in which stroke occurs, and identification of tobacco use as a risk factor. Stress may be perceived as a more important risk factor among African Americans than among White Americans. The literature does not suggest disparities in knowledge of the appropriate action to take for stroke.


CONCLUSIONS
Racial disparities may exist for specific domains of stroke knowledge. Future studies should explore specific gaps in knowledge to be addressed in stroke prevention interventions for African Americans. Standardization of methods is needed to aid comparisons across populations. The relationship between stroke knowledge and clinical outcomes also needs to be evaluated.
Department of Neurology; University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Medical School.
Anjail Z
AZ
Sharrief
Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Brenda
B
Johnson
Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health.
Sharon
S
Abada
Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Victor C
VC
Urrutia
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People
African Americans; Health Care Disparities; Minority Health; Risk Factors; Stroke