A Pilot Primary Stroke Prevention Program for Elderly Korean Americans

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Gerontology
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Stroke poses significant health risks for older adults in the U.S.
• Effective stroke prevention programs exist but often exclude those with language barriers, like older Korean Americans.
• Targeted interventions are needed to improve stroke knowledge and risk factor management in diverse elderly populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and preliminary impact of a primary stroke prevention program tailored for Korean Americans.
• To evaluate the program's effect on stroke knowledge, healthy eating, and physical activity behaviors.
• To address health disparities in stroke prevention among a specific ethnic elderly group.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled pilot trial involving 73 participants (37 intervention, 36 control).
• Intervention included in-person lectures and discussions designed to be culturally and linguistically appropriate.
• Statistical analyses included ANCOVA and logistic regression to compare groups.

Main Results:

• The intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in stroke knowledge compared to the control group (P = .001).
• Participants in the intervention group showed reduced intake of sodium and total fats (P = .048, P = .037).
• Marginal effects were observed for step counts (P = .075).

Conclusions:

• The primary stroke prevention program was feasible and effective for elderly Korean Americans.
• The intervention successfully enhanced stroke knowledge and promoted healthier dietary behaviors.
• Culturally tailored programs can overcome language barriers and improve health outcomes in minority aging populations.