# Potential categories of perceived recurrence risk in stroke patients and their relationship with self-management ability

## TL;DR

This study identifies three levels of stroke recurrence risk perception among patients and finds that higher perception is linked to better self-management.

## Contribution

The study introduces a classification of stroke patients based on their perceived recurrence risk and links it to self-management ability.

## Key findings

- Three categories of recurrence risk perception were identified: high, medium, and low.
- Higher risk perception was significantly associated with better self-management ability.
- Age, living environment, disease duration, and stroke frequency influenced risk perception.

## Abstract

This study aimed to identify latent profile categories of recurrence risk perception among stroke patients, analyze the factors influencing these categories, and examine their correlation with self-management ability. The findings are intended to provide new insights and a foundation for enhancing self-management in stroke patients.

A total of 221 stroke patients admitted to the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at Xuzhou Central Hospital between January 2024 and December 2024 were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Stroke Patient Recurrence Risk Perception Assessment Scale, and the Stroke Patient Self-Management Ability Assessment Scale. Statistical analyses included factor analysis and pairwise comparisons to examine influencing factors and their relationships.

A total of 221 questionnaires were distributed, with 23 invalid responses excluded, yielding an effective response rate of 89.59%. The mean recurrence risk perception score was 39.63 ± 5.67, while the mean self-management ability score was 85.69 ± 12.33. Latent profile analysis identified three distinct categories of recurrence risk perception: high -level, medium -level, and low -level risk perception groups. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in recurrence risk perception based on age (χ2 = 11.132, p = 0.025), education level (χ2 = 5.523, p = 0.044), living environment (χ2 = 9.868, p = 0.007), disease duration (χ2 = 13.142, p = 0.011), and stroke frequency (χ2 = 25.710, p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that age, living environment, disease duration, and stroke frequency were protective factors for recurrence risk perception (OR < 1, p < 0.05). Pairwise comparisons showed that patients in the high -level risk perception group exhibited significantly higher self-management ability compared to those in the medium -level (p < 0.01) and low -level risk perception groups (p < 0.01). Similarly, patients in the medium -level risk perception group demonstrated greater self-management ability than those in the low -level risk perception group (p < 0.01).

This study utilized latent profile analysis to classify stroke patients’ recurrence risk perception into three categories: high, medium, and low. These profiles were influenced by age, living environment, disease duration, and stroke frequency. Moreover, recurrence risk perception was significantly associated with self-management ability. Clinical practitioners should focus on patients in the low -level risk perception group, implementing targeted interventions to enhance their awareness of recurrence risk, thereby improving self-management, preventing recurrence, and optimizing patient outcomes.