Document Type

Report

Publication Date

5-2020

Date of Final Presentation

3-12-2020

Committee Chair

Pamela Gehrke

Committee Member

Pamela Strohfus

Coordinator/ Chair of DNP Program

Pamela Gehrke

Abstract/ Executive Summary

Problem Description: Coronary heart disease (CHD) affects people globally, and it is the leading cause of death in the United States. Despite increased CHD awareness, evidence shows the increased prevalence and low CHD awareness among African Immigrants. According to Boateng et al. (2017), African immigrants are more likely to have CHD risk factors and be unaware. This may be due to changes in eating habits, lack of physical activity, increased stress level, and the adaptation of the Western diet.

Rationale: This project included implementing a culture care theory in a faith-based organization to increase awareness, management, and prevention of CHD in African Immigrants. A tailored, culturally congruent educative plan valued the cultural beliefs of the people and improved patient health outcomes.

Interventions: Three monthly educational sessions and a personalized consultation with the interdisciplinary team were conducted at a church and faith-based clinic over three months. The educational sessions were designed with the three modalities of culture care as it relates to African Immigrants. The purpose of the intervention was to raise awareness, prevent and manage the risk factors of CHD in African immigrants, using cultural and faith beliefs.

Results: Twenty-six (n=26) African Immigrants attended the educational programs, received personalized consultation from the interdisciplinary team, and visited the clinic for biophysical measurements. The results were measured using modified closed-ended and open-ended questionnaires. Pre and post-test surveys showed a 19% increase in CHD knowledge and awareness, a 36% increase in physical activity awareness, and a 48% increase in the self-management of CHD risk factors. There was a 7.7% reduction in the mean blood pressure, 7.3% mean blood glucose, and 2.6% mean body weight of participants.

Conclusion: The increased level of CHD awareness can be attributed to the faith-based intervention and culture care theory implemented to raise awareness. This DNP project showed that culturally appropriate care and tailored care could raise the level of CHD knowledge and reduce CHD risk factors. The findings from the DNP project suggested that cultural consideration and adaptation of faith beliefs in AIs medical care raised CHD awareness and decreased CHD risk factors such as blood pressure, blood glucose, and body weight.

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