TY - JOUR
T1 - Knowledge Gaps and Misconceptions About Coronary Heart Disease Among U.S. South Asians
AU - Kandula, Namratha R.
AU - Tirodkar, Manasi A.
AU - Lauderdale, Diane S.
AU - Khurana, Neerja R.
AU - Makoul, Gregory
AU - Baker, David W.
N1 - Funding Information:
The present study was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (Career Development Award 5 K23 HL 084177 to NRK). During the research and writing of this paper, MAT was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Studies, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, supported by an Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Award from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Grant ( H133P980014 ). The authors thank Raymond Kang for statistical support. The authors thank Dr. Muhammad Paracha, and the staff at Asian Human Services Family Health Center, Indo-American Center, and Metropolitan Asian Family Services in Chicago IL for their assistance with data collection.
PY - 2010/4
Y1 - 2010/4
N2 - Background: Although South Asians are at higher risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) than most other U.S. racial/ethnic groups, very little research has addressed this disparity. Purpose: As a first step in developing culturally targeted CHD prevention messages for this rapidly growing community, this study examined South Asians' knowledge and beliefs about CHD. Methods: Analyses, conducted in 2009, were based on data collected from January to July 2008 in a cross-sectional study population of 270 South Asian adults in Illinois. Interviews were conducted in English, Hindi, or Urdu using a standardized questionnaire. Multivariate regression models were used to examine the associations between sociodemographics and CHD knowledge and attitudes about preventability. Results: Eighty-one percent of respondents had one or more CHD risk factors. Most participants (89%) said they knew little or nothing about CHD. Stress was the most frequently mentioned risk factor (44%). Few mentioned controlling blood pressure (11%); cholesterol (10%); and diabetes (5%) for prevention. Fifty-three percent said that heart attacks are not preventable. Low education level, being interviewed in Urdu or Hindi, and low level of acculturation were associated with less knowledge and believing that CHD is not preventable. Conclusions: A majority of South Asians in this study believed that CHD is not preventable and had low awareness of modifiable risk factors. As a first step, CHD education should target the knowledge gaps that may affect risk factor control and behavior change. Educational messages may need to be somewhat different for subgroups (e.g., by education and language) to be maximally effective.
AB - Background: Although South Asians are at higher risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) than most other U.S. racial/ethnic groups, very little research has addressed this disparity. Purpose: As a first step in developing culturally targeted CHD prevention messages for this rapidly growing community, this study examined South Asians' knowledge and beliefs about CHD. Methods: Analyses, conducted in 2009, were based on data collected from January to July 2008 in a cross-sectional study population of 270 South Asian adults in Illinois. Interviews were conducted in English, Hindi, or Urdu using a standardized questionnaire. Multivariate regression models were used to examine the associations between sociodemographics and CHD knowledge and attitudes about preventability. Results: Eighty-one percent of respondents had one or more CHD risk factors. Most participants (89%) said they knew little or nothing about CHD. Stress was the most frequently mentioned risk factor (44%). Few mentioned controlling blood pressure (11%); cholesterol (10%); and diabetes (5%) for prevention. Fifty-three percent said that heart attacks are not preventable. Low education level, being interviewed in Urdu or Hindi, and low level of acculturation were associated with less knowledge and believing that CHD is not preventable. Conclusions: A majority of South Asians in this study believed that CHD is not preventable and had low awareness of modifiable risk factors. As a first step, CHD education should target the knowledge gaps that may affect risk factor control and behavior change. Educational messages may need to be somewhat different for subgroups (e.g., by education and language) to be maximally effective.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.12.034
DO - 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.12.034
M3 - Article
C2 - 20307813
AN - SCOPUS:77949482610
SN - 0749-3797
VL - 38
SP - 439
EP - 442
JO - American Journal of Preventive Medicine
JF - American Journal of Preventive Medicine
IS - 4
ER -
