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Identifying Barriers and Facilitators for Stroke Recovery and Prevention Among African American Men
Insights
African American men face unique barriers to stroke prevention and recovery, often linked to health equity concerns and the desire to regain their "old normal." Peer support and community-based care are key facilitators for better health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Disparities
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Strokes disproportionately impact African Americans.
- Understanding patient perspectives is crucial for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify perceived barriers and facilitators for stroke prevention and recovery among African American men.
- To inform the development of culturally relevant stroke interventions.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interviews with 40 African American men.
- Directed content analysis of interview data.
- Part of a prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT).
Main Results:
- Dominant barriers include seeking the 'old normal,' contextualizing the stroke experience, and insecurity about health equity.
- Facilitators include developing condition-specific management strategies, man-to-man connections, and extending healthcare beyond traditional settings.
- Personal health goals were often challenged by systemic factors.
Conclusions:
- Addressing systemic issues and leveraging social support are vital for stroke recovery in African American men.
- Interventions should consider the broader social and environmental context influencing health behaviors.
- Community-based and peer-supported approaches show promise.
Abstract:
Strokes disproportionately affect African Americans compared with all other U.S. adults. This study's goal was to identify perceived barriers and facilitating factors for stroke prevention and recovery. In-depth, baseline qualitative interviews of 40 AA men were conducted as part of the initial phase of an ongoing 12-month prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test the effectiveness of a stroke risk reduction intervention, TargEted MAnageMent (TEAM). Directed content analysis revealed eight themes from each of the two domains. Dominant barrier themes include (1) seeking the "old normal," (2) contextualizing the stroke experience, and (3) feeling insecure about health equity. Dominant facilitator themes include (1) developing strategies to manage specific conditions, (2) connecting man-to-man, and (3) extending health care "beyond buildings." Personal health goals were sometimes challenging to achieve because the men's experiences were intertwined with larger forces, often at odds with seeking and maintaining good health.
