Strategies for Recruiting Young African American Men for Primary Stroke Prevention Research.

BACKGROUND: African American (AA) men bear a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease and stroke but are often underrepresented in research. OBJECTIVE: This article describes the development and evaluation of a recruitment plan to reach young AA men for the Stroke Counseling for Risk Reduction in Men project. METHODS: The plan was developed from researchers' previous experiences and a literature review, and used to recruit AA men, ages 20 to 35 years, for focus groups about stroke and Stroke Counseling for Risk Reduction. RESULTS: Screening survey respondents (N = 81) were reached mostly by word of mouth (42%) and social media (28%). Focus group participants (N = 32) recommended appropriate incentives and social media to recruit young AA men for research. They also suggested learning about the study from a friend, colleague, or study participant could motivate participation. CONCLUSION: The plan was successful in reaching and enrolling an adequate sample. Findings and recommendations highlight the importance of social networks and trusted sources.

Measurement and Outcomes of the Perceived Risk of Stroke: A Review.

Stroke continues to be a public health problem, and risk perceptions are key to understanding people's thoughts about stroke risk and their preventive health behaviors. This review identifies how the perceived risk of stroke has been measured and outcomes in terms of levels, predictors, accuracy, and intervention results. Sixteen studies were included. The perceived risk of stroke has primarily been assessed with single-item measures; no multi-item surveys were found. In general, people tend to perceive a low-moderate risk of stroke; the most common predictors of higher stroke risk perceptions were having risk factors for stroke (hypertension, diabetes) and a higher number of risk factors. However, inaccuracies were common; at least half of respondents underestimated/overestimated their risk. Few studies have examined whether interventions can improve the perceived risk of stroke. Strategies to improve stroke risk perceptions should be explored to determine whether accuracy can promote healthy lifestyles to reduce stroke risk.