Clinical studies
Lack of awareness of heart disease and stroke among Chinese Canadians: Results of a pilot study of the Chinese Canadian Cardiovascular Health ProjectLa méconnaissance des maladies cardiaques et des accidents vasculaires cérébraux chez les Sino-Canadiens : Les résultats d’un projet pilote de l’étude sur la santé cardiovasculaire des Sino-Canadiens

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0828-282X(08)70650-0Get rights and content

Background

According to Statistics Canada's 2001 census, the Chinese make up the largest (27.5%) visible minority population in Canada. The cardiovascular health information for this population is therefore important for the allocation of health care and promotion resources.

Objectives

In the present pilot study, the authors sought to define the degree of awareness and knowledge of cardiovascular disease, as well as their risk factors, among the Chinese Canadian population.

Methods

A 16-item telephone survey was conducted among 1004 ethnic Chinese subjects (18 years of age and older) in the greater Toronto area of Ontario (n = 503) and the greater Vancouver area of British Columbia (n=501) in February 2004.

Results

Among the respondents, 73% spoke Cantonese at home and 21% spoke Mandarin. Ninety-seven per cent were immigrants, and 53% had been in Canada for less than 10 years. A history of hypertension was reported in 9.2% of respondents, diabetes in 3.2% and high cholesterol in 14.5%. Thirty-two per cent and 40% of respondents were unable to name at least one symptom of heart attack or stroke, respectively, unaided. Thirty-two per cent and 35% of respondents named at least one incorrect symptom of heart attack and stroke, respectively. When asked about their immediate response in a hypothetical case of a heart attack or stroke, only 20% would have called 911.

Conclusions

The present study is the first to address the awareness of cardiovascular health and disease among Chinese Canadians. These data suggest that Chinese Canadians have a relatively low awareness of the warning symptoms for common cardiovascular emergency situations. The findings presented here have important implications for the development of future health promotion and research initiatives targeted to visible minority populations in Canada.

Historique

D’après le recensement de 2001 effectué par Statistique Canada, les Chinois forment la principale minorité visible (27,5%) du Canada. Il est donc important de fournir de l’information sur la santé cardiovasculaire à cette population pour l’attribution des ressources de soins de santé et de promotion de la santé.

Objectifs

Dans le présent projet pilote, les auteurs visaient à définir le degré de sensibilisation aux maladies cardiovasculaires et de connaissance de ces maladies, de même que les facteurs de risque au sein de la population sinocanadienne.

Méthodologie

Une enquête téléphonique à 16 questions a été menée auprès de 1 004 sujets d’ethnie chinoise (18 ans et plus) de la grande région de Toronto, en Ontario (n=503) et de Vancouver, en Colombie-Britannique (n=501), en février 2004.

Résultats

Parmi les répondants, 73% parlaient le cantonais à la maison et 21%, le mandarin. Quatre-vingt-dix-sept pour cent étaient immigrants, et 53% étaient au Canada depuis moins de dix ans. Des antécédents d’hypertension ont été déclarés par 9,2% des répondants, de diabète, par 3,2% d’entre eux, et d’hypercholestérolémie, par 14,5% d’entre eux. Trente-deux pour cent et 40% des répondants étaient incapables de nommer au moins un symptôme de crise cardiaque ou d’accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC), respectivement, sans aide. Trent-edeux pour cent et 35% des répondants ont nommé au moins un faux facteur de risque de crise cardiaque et d’AVC, respectivement. Lorsqu’on leur demandait leur réaction immédiate à un cas hypothétique de crise cardiaque ou d’AVC, seulement 20% auraient appelé le 911.

Conclusions

La présente étude est la première à traiter de la sensibilisation à la santé cardiovasculaire et aux maladies cardiovasculaires parmi les Sino-Canadiens. Ces données indiquent que les Sino-Canadiens sont relativement peu informés des symptômes avertisseurs des situations courantes d’urgence cardiovasculaire. Les observations qui sont présentées ont d’importantes répercussions sur l’élaboration de futurs projets de recherche et de promotion de la santé ciblant les minorités visibles au Canada.

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