Effectiveness of a Cultural Stroke Prevention Program in the United States—South Asian Health Awareness About Stroke (SAHAS)

Exploring the poststroke experiences and unmet needs of South Asian communities in high-income countries: a scoping review protocol

“…Studies have called for culturally appropriate and/or tailored health resources to meet the needs of ethnic minorities, 39 and specifically people of South Asian descent living in high-income countries. 33 40 Culturally appropriate intervention content addresses the needs (eg, cultural and linguistic) of the groups that they serve, and in doing so, it is more relevant and effective for these groups. 41 Culturally tailored interventions are specifically adapted to meet the cultural needs and preferences of a culture-sharing group.…”

“… 39 Although data on the effectiveness of culturally appropriate and tailored programmes is limited with South Asian stroke populations, a few culturally tailored programmes demonstrated increased knowledge of stroke. 33 42 Culturally tailored programmes that were not stroke-specific demonstrated the ability to promote healthier lifestyles, including improving well-being and physical activity levels among South Asian participants. 40 Evidence from culturally tailored programmes implemented within other ethnic groups suggests that culturally tailored programmes can improve quality of life and family and community support and increase knowledge of the disease.…”

“… 40 43 Several community-based programmes have provided tailored stroke programmes and resources to South Asians living with/at risk of stroke (eg, Stroke Recovery British Columbia’s South Asian Virtual Stroke Programme, 44 Fraser Health South Asian Health Institute, 45 South Asian Health Awareness about Stroke. 33 However, it is difficult to ascertain how, or the degree to which, these programmes were informed by the best available evidence. While previous reviews have synthesised available evidence regarding the experiences and needs of people with stroke, 11 12 to our knowledge, none have specifically synthesised evidence related to the poststroke experiences and needs of South Asian groups in high-income countries.…”

“…It is worth noting that differences in stroke risk also vary depending on South Asian ethnicity whereby Bangladeshi adults have been found to be more at risk than their Indian and Pakistani counterparts 28. Despite South Asians having greater stroke risk factors, experiencing a stroke at a younger age (eg, nearly a decade younger than White groups), having poorer functional outcomes after stroke and higher instances of mortality from stroke29 30 compared with other ethnic groups,18 21 25 31 32 they are understudied in stroke research 21 33. Various sociocultural factors influencing post-stroke experiences and needs that are specific to South Asian groups have been identified in the literature.…”

“…Culturally tailored interventions are specifically adapted to meet the cultural needs and preferences of a culture-sharing group 39. Although data on the effectiveness of culturally appropriate and tailored programmes is limited with South Asian stroke populations, a few culturally tailored programmes demonstrated increased knowledge of stroke 33 42. Culturally tailored programmes that were not stroke-specific demonstrated the ability to promote healthier lifestyles, including improving well-being and physical activity levels among South Asian participants 40.…”