Files and links (1)
Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified), Open
Journal article
Care seeking after stroke symptoms
Annals of neurology, v 63(4), pp 466-472
01 Apr 2008
PMID: 18360830
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Objective: To assess risk factors associated with seeking care for stroke symptoms.
Methods: Using data from the population-based national cohort study (REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke) conducted January 25, 2003-February 28, 2007 (N = 23,664), we assessed care-seeking behavior among 3,668 participants who reported a physician diagnosis of stroke/transient ischemic attack (n = 647) or stroke symptoms (n = 3,021) during follow-up. Care seeking was defined as seeking medical attention after stroke symptoms or a physician diagnosis.
Results: Overall, 58.5% of participants (2,146/3,668) sought medical care. In multivariable models, higher income was associated with greater likelihood of seeking care (p = 0.02): participants with income of >=$75,000 had odds 1.43 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-2.02) greater than those with income of less than $20,000. Diabetes and previous heart disease were associated with increased care seeking: odds ratio (OR) of 1.23 (95% Cl, 1.04-1.47) and OR of 1.26 (95% Cl, 1.06-1.49), respectively. Participants with previous stroke symptoms but no stroke history were less likely to seek care than those with stroke history or without previous symptoms (OR, 0.80; 95% Cl, 0.67-0.96). Past smoking was associated with lower likelihood (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.59-0.85; p = 0.0003) of seeking care relative to nonsmokers.
Interpretation: Only approximately half of participants with stroke symptoms sought care. This is despite the encouragement of advocacy groups to seek prompt attention for stroke symptoms. Our results highlight the importance of identifying characteristics associated with care-seeking behavior. Recognizing factors that contribute to delays provides opportunities to enhance education on the importance of seeking care for stroke symptoms.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Care seeking after stroke symptoms
- Creators
- Virginia J. Howard - Medical University of South CarolinaDaniel T. Lackland - Medical University of South CarolinaJudith H. Lichtman - Yale UniversityLeslie A. McClure - University of Alabama at BirminghamGeorge Howard - University of Alabama at BirminghamLibby Wagner - University of Alabama at BirminghamLeaVonne Pulley - University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesCamilo R. Gomez - Alabama Neurological Institute, Birmingham, AL
- Publication Details
- Annals of neurology, v 63(4), pp 466-472
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- U01 NS041588 / NINDS NIH HHS; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS) U01NS041588 / NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000255454400009
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-42949083638
- Other Identifier
- 991019231742504721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Neurosciences