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- Title
Stroke Risk Assessment in a Southeastern University Dental Hygiene Facility.
- Authors
Tanenbaum, Barbara G.; Edenfield, Suzanne M.
- Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify significant stroke risk factors, which may assist dental hygiene students in educating the clinic population on methods of stroke prevention. The southeastern United States is referred to as the "Stroke Belt," with Georgia having a 14% higher rate of cardiovascular death and the sixth highest mortality rate among the 50 states. It is postulated that the death rates attributed to this disease are associated with preventable risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, cigarette smoking, cardiovascular disease, atrial fibrillation, and lack of physical activity. Methods and Materials. Because statistics reveal a disproportionately high incidence of stroke in this region of the country and risk factors have been identified, this study was conducted on a southeastern Georgia population at the Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU) campus. The dental hygiene department clinic served as a screening facility for the American Stroke Association's Southeast Affiliate Operation Stroke project, with services predominately utilized by persons with low income, no insurance, and/or lack of regular health care. Utilizing a written survey for stroke risk assessment and descriptive statistics, data was analyzed to determine age, race, gender, and quantifiable stroke risk factors. Results. Using one-way ANOVA statistical analysis, the data demonstrated that, of the 144 surveyed, a higher percentage of subjects with a history of diabetes had a moderate stroke risk; whereas a larger percentage of non-diabetics was at low risk. Additionally, subjects who were smokers or had cardiovascular disease or atrial fibrillation were at a significantly greater risk of stroke. Subgroup analyses revealed significant differences between groups in the prevalence of risk factors, suggesting that blacks, even those on blood pressure medicine, had a significantly higher blood pressure (P <.046) than whites. However, because this number of subjects was low (n=5), one should be cautious in drawing conculsions. Additionally, the data indicated no significant differences between gender on any of the risk factors. Conclusions. Based upon the results, educational information pertaining to stroke risk factors was incorporated into the curriculum in an effort to reduce the stroke incidence in the population utilizing the AASU dental hygiene clinic.
- Publication
Journal of Dental Hygiene, 2006, Vol 80, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
1043-254X
- Publication type
Academic Journal