There was no significant difference in smoking continuance , or improved fruit and vegetable consumption .
CONCLUSIONS There are benefits to be derived from multimodal secondary prevention interventions .
BACKGROUND Guidelines recommend implementation of multimodal interventions to help prevent recurrent TIA/stroke .
We undertook a systematic review to assess the effectiveness of behavioral secondary prevention interventions .
Knowledge and understanding of disease process, risk factors and treatment modalities in patients with a recent TIA or minor ischemic stroke.
BACKGROUND Patients with acute stroke often have a striking lack of knowledge of causes , warning signs , and risk factors . Lack of knowledge may lead to inappropriate secondary prevention behavior . We investigated the knowledge of patients with a TIA or minor stroke about specific aspects of their disease 3 months after the event . METHODS Patients with a TIA or minor stroke who participated in a r and omized controlled trial of the effect of health education by an individualized multimedia computer program ( IMCP ) were included . All patients received information about their disease from their treating neurologist and half of the patients received extra information through the IMCP . The patients ' knowledge was tested after 3 months by means of a question naire that contained items on pathogenesis , warning signs , vascular diseases , risk factors , lifestyle and treatment . The highest possible score was 71 points . RESULTS The 57 patients had a mean total score of 41.2 points ( SD 10.4 ) of the maximum 71 . Only 15 ( 26 % ) correctly identified the brain as the affected organ in stroke and TIA , and only 21 ( 37 % ) could give a correct description of a TIA or stroke . In contrast , 80 - 90 % of the patients identified hypertension and /or obesity as vascular risk factors . Knowledge of various treatment modalities of hypertension , hypercholesterolemia and obesity was moderate to high ( 40 - 91 % adequate responses ) . CONCLUSION The vast majority of patients with TIA or stroke lack specific knowledge about their disease , but they do have a reasonable knowledge of general vascular risk factors and treatment . This suggests that counseling by neurologists of patients with a TIA or stroke can be improved
There was no significant difference in smoking continuance , or improved fruit and vegetable consumption .
CONCLUSIONS There are benefits to be derived from multimodal secondary prevention interventions .
BACKGROUND Guidelines recommend implementation of multimodal interventions to help prevent recurrent TIA/stroke .
We undertook a systematic review to assess the effectiveness of behavioral secondary prevention interventions .