The challenges of community-based research: the beauty shop stroke education project.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND

AND PURPOSE:
Public knowledge of stroke warning signs and risk factors is poor, especially in higher risk groups such as blacks. We sought to design a creative new way to educate black women by working through local beauty salons and measuring the results of the intervention.

METHODS:
Thirty black beauticians were educated about stroke warning signs and risk factors in 2 large urban areas in the US. The beauticians then educated their clientele during appointments. Stroke knowledge gained was measured via de-identified pre- and post-intervention (at 6 weeks and 5 months) surveys that included open-ended questions. Stroke warning signs were taught using the "FAST" (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) method.

RESULTS:
There were 383 completed baseline surveys, and 318 surveys were completed at 5 months. Of the 383 women, 78% were <60 years old, 69% had some college education, 41% had hypertension, and 12% had diabetes. The percentage of women who knew 3 warning signs significantly improved from the baseline survey (40.7%) to the final survey (50.6%), and similar improvements in knowledge were seen in both study regions. There was no improvement in knowledge of 3 risk factors (16.5% versus 18.2%). After our educational intervention, 94% knew to call 911 for stroke symptoms, an 8% improvement over baseline (P=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS:
Despite the challenges of community-based research encountered within our project, we found that stroke education in the beauty shop significantly improved knowledge regarding stroke warning signs and calling 911 among a group of black women. This improvement in knowledge was sustained for at least 5 months. Knowledge of stroke risk factors, however, did not improve. The use of the beauty shop as an educational site is a novel approach to stroke education for women that can be practically applied in the community. Education regarding stroke risk factors remains a challenge that warrants further study.

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Author information

Author/s: Kleindorfer, Dawn (D); Miller, Rosie (R); Sailor-Smith, Sharion (S); Moomaw, Charles J (CJ); Khoury, Jane (J); Frankel, Michael (M);

Affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, MSB #0525, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA. dawn.kleindorfer(-atsign-)uc.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation (Stroke), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Aug; vol 39 (issue 8) : pp 2331-5

Dates: Created 2008/07/29; Completed 2008/08/21;

PMID: 18566304, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Stroke. 2008 Aug;39(8):2189-90. (PMID: 18566301)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
African Americans - statistics & numerical data
Aged
Beauty Culture
Commerce
Community-Institutional Relations
Female

Female
Health Education - methods; organization & administration
Health Surveys
Humans
Middle Aged
Risk Factors
Stroke - ethnology; prevention & control
Urban Population - statistics & numerical data

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