Secondary stroke prevention remains sub-optimal, and prior research highlights the importance of social network involvement for improving risk factor management. The Families/Friends Understanding Risk Reduction through Educational Reinforcement (FURRThER) intervention is a chronic disease management program engaging multi-ethnic stroke patients together with their social networks.  We conducted a series of pilot studies to assess the vascular risk profile of stroke patients’ social networks and the feasibility of engaging them in a risk reduction program. Mild/moderate stroke/TIA survivors and 1-4 social network members were recruited from NYU Medical Center or through contacts from a previous study. A brief survey was administered to 51 stroke patients and 47 network members to evaluate interest in FURRThER and ability to engage with a web portal. Over 80% expressed enthusiasm for FURRThER and reported that working with friends/family would help them stick to health goals. As over 90% of respondents had Internet access and were willing to engage online, development of a web portal for engagement seems appropriate. A sample of 29 network members was also risk assessed using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7. They were 72% female with an average age of 54 (18% Asian, 18% Hispanic, 14% black). They were found to be at significant vascular risk: 18% diabetes, 10% smokers, 60% overweight or obese, 33% taking hypertension medication. Implementing a social network based stroke prevention program appears feasible and also warranted, as network members were found to have elevated risk. Participants’ openness to using an online platform could increase the intervention’s reach and sustainability.

FEASIBILITY OF A SOCIAL NETWORK BASED VASCULAR RISK REDUCTION PROGRAM FOR MILD STROKE SURVIVORS