Pc. Britton et al., CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE KNOWLEDGE IN A SAMPLE OF MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDERAFRICAN-AMERICAN ADULTS - CHALLENGES FOR REHABILITATION-MEDICINE, Topics in geriatric rehabilitation, 12(3), 1997, pp. 62-74
This study examined knowledge about risk factors and symptoms of coron
ary heart disease, hypertension, and stroke in a community sample of 1
00 middle-aged and older African-American adults using structured inte
rviews. The findings revealed low to moderate levels of knowledge abou
t risks and symptoms associated with these cardiovascular diseases. Le
ss than a third were aware that high-fat diets, smoking, physical inac
tivity, high alcohol use, and obesity are risk factors for cardiovascu
lar diseases. Older respondents were less knowledgeable about risks fo
r heart disease and hypertension and symptoms for hypertension than we
re their middle-aged counterparts. Rehabilitation professionals' role
in providing aging African Americans with appropriate knowledge and sk
ills needed for optimal cardiovascular health is discussed.