Southern African American Women's Perceptions of Coronary Artery Disease After a Myocardial Infarction
Southern African American Women's Perceptions of Coronary Artery Disease After a Myocardial Infarction

Author: Loretta Jones (Ph.D.)

Publisher:

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 116

ISBN-13:

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The American Heart Association (AHA) reported that cardiovascular diseases kill nearly 50,000 African-American (AA) women annually. Of AA women ages 20 and older, 49% have heart diseases. Only 52% of AA women are aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and only 36% of AA women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of African American women, 50 years and older, who had experienced a myocardial infarction within the past five years. The primary research questions addressed the women's knowledge of risk factors, and their perceptions of management, and lifestyle changes relevant to coronary artery disease post-MI. This study was consistent with the goal to decrease health disparities of AA women post MI and the Healthy People 2020 goal to improve cardiovascular health through prevention, detection, and treatment of risk. Participants were seven AA recruited from local cardiology offices with histories of myocardial infarction. The primary data collection source was the semi-structured interviews conducted using open-ended questions. Demographic data were collected through a brief written questionnaire. The phenomenological data analysis involved the processes of coding, categorizing, and developing themes. The findings revealed six major themes: life before myocardial infarction, contributing risk factors, early warning signs, life after myocardial infarction, cardiac rehabilitation, and family support. The majorities of women reported unrecognized risk factors prior to MI but are now able to recognize and heed early warning signs, and made lifestyle changes post MI to prevent a recurrence. Lifestyle changes included increasing knowledge and recognition of early warning signs of MI, adherence to medication, smoking cessation, improved dietary habits, exercise, and regular checkups. However, none of the women attended cardiac rehabilitation, and only one having been referred for rehabilitation. Participants identified the support of family to be an important factor supporting their adaptation in the post-MI period. These findings provided a beginning foundation for the development of interventions that are predictably effective in prevention of MIs in AA women.

Unequal Treatment
Unequal Treatment

Author: Institute of Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2009-02-06

Total Pages: 781

ISBN-13: 030908265X

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Racial and ethnic disparities in health care are known to reflect access to care and other issues that arise from differing socioeconomic conditions. There is, however, increasing evidence that even after such differences are accounted for, race and ethnicity remain significant predictors of the quality of health care received. In Unequal Treatment, a panel of experts documents this evidence and explores how persons of color experience the health care environment. The book examines how disparities in treatment may arise in health care systems and looks at aspects of the clinical encounter that may contribute to such disparities. Patients' and providers' attitudes, expectations, and behavior are analyzed. How to intervene? Unequal Treatment offers recommendations for improvements in medical care financing, allocation of care, availability of language translation, community-based care, and other arenas. The committee highlights the potential of cross-cultural education to improve provider-patient communication and offers a detailed look at how to integrate cross-cultural learning within the health professions. The book concludes with recommendations for data collection and research initiatives. Unequal Treatment will be vitally important to health care policymakers, administrators, providers, educators, and students as well as advocates for people of color.

Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health
Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health

Author: Institute of Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2001-07-02

Total Pages: 287

ISBN-13: 0309132975

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It's obvious why only men develop prostate cancer and why only women get ovarian cancer. But it is not obvious why women are more likely to recover language ability after a stroke than men or why women are more apt to develop autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Sex differences in health throughout the lifespan have been documented. Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health begins to snap the pieces of the puzzle into place so that this knowledge can be used to improve health for both sexes. From behavior and cognition to metabolism and response to chemicals and infectious organisms, this book explores the health impact of sex (being male or female, according to reproductive organs and chromosomes) and gender (one's sense of self as male or female in society). Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health discusses basic biochemical differences in the cells of males and females and health variability between the sexes from conception throughout life. The book identifies key research needs and opportunities and addresses barriers to research. Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health will be important to health policy makers, basic, applied, and clinical researchers, educators, providers, and journalists-while being very accessible to interested lay readers.

Critical Perspectives on Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health in Late Life
Critical Perspectives on Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health in Late Life

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2004-10-16

Total Pages: 753

ISBN-13: 0309092116

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In their later years, Americans of different racial and ethnic backgrounds are not in equally good-or equally poor-health. There is wide variation, but on average older Whites are healthier than older Blacks and tend to outlive them. But Whites tend to be in poorer health than Hispanics and Asian Americans. This volume documents the differentials and considers possible explanations. Selection processes play a role: selective migration, for instance, or selective survival to advanced ages. Health differentials originate early in life, possibly even before birth, and are affected by events and experiences throughout the life course. Differences in socioeconomic status, risk behavior, social relations, and health care all play a role. Separate chapters consider the contribution of such factors and the biopsychosocial mechanisms that link them to health. This volume provides the empirical evidence for the research agenda provided in the separate report of the Panel on Race, Ethnicity, and Health in Later Life.

Capturing Social and Behavioral Domains and Measures in Electronic Health Records
Capturing Social and Behavioral Domains and Measures in Electronic Health Records

Author: Institute of Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2015-01-08

Total Pages: 287

ISBN-13: 0309312450

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Determinants of health - like physical activity levels and living conditions - have traditionally been the concern of public health and have not been linked closely to clinical practice. However, if standardized social and behavioral data can be incorporated into patient electronic health records (EHRs), those data can provide crucial information about factors that influence health and the effectiveness of treatment. Such information is useful for diagnosis, treatment choices, policy, health care system design, and innovations to improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs. Capturing Social and Behavioral Domains and Measures in Electronic Health Records: Phase 2 identifies domains and measures that capture the social determinants of health to inform the development of recommendations for the meaningful use of EHRs. This report is the second part of a two-part study. The Phase 1 report identified 17 domains for inclusion in EHRs. This report pinpoints 12 measures related to 11 of the initial domains and considers the implications of incorporating them into all EHRs. This book includes three chapters from the Phase 1 report in addition to the new Phase 2 material. Standardized use of EHRs that include social and behavioral domains could provide better patient care, improve population health, and enable more informative research. The recommendations of Capturing Social and Behavioral Domains and Measures in Electronic Health Records: Phase 2 will provide valuable information on which to base problem identification, clinical diagnoses, patient treatment, outcomes assessment, and population health measurement.

Clinical Case Studies for the Family Nurse Practitioner
Clinical Case Studies for the Family Nurse Practitioner

Author: Leslie Neal-Boylan

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2011-11-28

Total Pages: 432

ISBN-13: 1118277856

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Clinical Case Studies for the Family Nurse Practitioner is a key resource for advanced practice nurses and graduate students seeking to test their skills in assessing, diagnosing, and managing cases in family and primary care. Composed of more than 70 cases ranging from common to unique, the book compiles years of experience from experts in the field. It is organized chronologically, presenting cases from neonatal to geriatric care in a standard approach built on the SOAP format. This includes differential diagnosis and a series of critical thinking questions ideal for self-assessment or classroom use.