Heart Diseases in African American Women in New Jersey - Research Paper Example

Research Proposal: Heart Diseases in African American Women in New Jersey al Affiliation: Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Research Topic and Research Question 3 Justification of Research Question 3 Literature Review 4 Conceptualization 6 Operationalization 8 Proposed Method of Observation 8 Sampling Plan 10 Proposed Plan of Analysis 12 Ethical Considerations 12 Time for Research 14 Limitations of the Study and Conclusions 14 Research Topic and Research Question The research Topic for this research proposal is “Heart Diseases in African American Women in New Jersey,” while the research questions include the following: 1. Is there knowledge of heart diseases among the African American women in Camden –New Jersey? 2. What are the risk factors for heart diseases among women in Camden- New Jersey? 3. What are the measures taken against the unwavering development of heart conditions among African American women in New Jersey? 4. Are there any other related factors apart from the known risk factors leading to development of heart diseases among African American women in New Jersey Justification of Research Question Heart diseases are some of the common debilitating conditions that have been found rampant among the African American populations. The conditions is however common in these populations due to certain lifestyle and physiologic functions. Some individuals have increased risks of developing the condition as compared to others. More often than not, the African American populations are exposed to many systemic conditions that make them more susceptible to developing heart diseases than other people. Unfortunately, these risk factors continue to affect African American populations than other populations (Collins, 2006). Rosenberg et al., (2009) say that the increased incidences of the disease among the African Americans provoke the need for medical interventions. Heart diseases can cause a lot of stress and problems to its sufferers. The condition is a major problem especially in the African American women who have a number of factors that facilitate it. Although the conditions can be prevented, more blacks develop heart diseases due to poor lifestyle activities and other medical conditions. The prolonged effects of these conditions can lead to diffuse defects and death. Heart diseases are expensively managed hence poses a great threat to most of the poor individuals who suffer from it. Heart related therapies are also not feasible especially to most poor African Americans in New Jersey- Camden. Literature Review Cardiovascular disease is scaling as the leading cause of death across the globe. The condition is highly experienced in certain populations as compared to others. Studies have shown that there is significant reduction in the heart disease incidences in countries with high economic status. Low economic statuses have experienced high cases of cardiovascular deaths. In many individuals, lifestyle and diet influences the propagation of the condition (Bolton & Wilson, 2005). Heart diseases are highly experienced among the elderly individuals as compared to younger people. However, cases of atherosclerosis start earlier in life where the defects in fat metabolism are experienced. Heart disease is developed due to prolonged exposure to the risk factors. This indicates that a number of young people are exposed to the cardiovascular diseases long before the conditions eventually manifest (Dubbert et al., 2010). There is a wide range of heart diseases depending on the location and area where it is involved with. The commonest cardiovascular disease is known as the Coronary Heart disease. This condition is formed when there is an increased level of fats in the circulation that blocks the coronary heart artery preventing the circulation into the heart muscles. This phenomenon leads to compromised pumping of blood with resultant deprivation of oxygen and nutrients. As a result, the heart pumping mechanisms suddenly stop leading to a heart attack. This feature is common among the African American descents since they have relatively higher blood cholesterols. Moreover, African Americans depend on diets that have high cholesterol levels increasing their susceptibility to heart diseases (Collins, 2006). Cardiomyopathy is also another known heart disease that affects most individuals in their latter ages. Cardiomyopathies result from a number of defects on the heart muscles leading to inability of the heart to carry out normal pumping mechanism. Cardiomyopathies can result from infections attacking the heart muscles. Additionally, the condition can result from various degenerative changes e.g. hormonal surges unleashing changes on the heart muscles. Hypertensive heart diseases are ranges of diseases that result from high blood pressure. Studies have shown that there is close link between high blood pressure and heart disease. The blood pressure is an essential attribute of a normal circulatory system. Increased blood pressure can propagate a number of syndromes in the circulatory system. Previous studies have indicated that most African American women develop high blood pressure often. This explains why most of the have tendency of having heart diseases (Rosenberg et al., 2009). Other wide ranges of heart conditions like general heart failure can cause significant reduction in the circulatory system. Heart failure can either be left or right sided. All these forms of heart failures are important in the event of heart diseases. Arrhythmias or are also common and can result from abnormal heart rhythm. This has the ability to affect the output of circulation in individuals making them to suffer from wide range of cardiovascular conditions (Lutfiyya et al., 2008). The heart can also suffer damages from various inflammatory diseases. Some of these diseases include Endocarditiditis, which principally affects the heart valves and the inner lumen of the heart and its vessels. This condition can lead to major circulatory insufficiencies. The defective valves form etiology for circulatory backflow and surges that leads to insufficiency. Moreover, the heart can also be affected by inflammatory cardiomegaly that leads to enlargement of the heart due to inflammatory processes on the heart muscles. Cardiomagalies are known for causing reduced cardiovascular strength leading to heart failure. Besides, the heart muscles can also be inflamed leading to a condition known as myocarditis. Myocarditis affects the vital heart muscles rendering the heart unable to sufficiently pump blood to various parts of the body (Dubbert et al., 2010). Other common cardiovascular disorders include valvular heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases that affect the cerebral part of the brain and can lead to stroke. Cerebrovascular disease is common among the African Americans. This is according the numerous studies that indicate that stroke is rampant among the African American descents. Peripheral arterial diseases can also result from defective blood vessels of the extremities. Other conditions can be developed congenitally e.g. foramen ovale and the transposition of great vessels. Another common type of heart disease is known as rheumatic heart disease, which follows infection, by streptococcus. Rheumatic heart disease affects the heart muscles and valves leading to defective circulation (Winham & Jones, 2011). Conceptualization Previous research studies indicate that heart diseases are common especially in the African American populations. African American women from New Jersey have shown higher records of heart diseases. The healthcare institutions in New Jersey concerned with the heart diseases note that heart diseases are so common among the African American women populations. This necessitates the need for a profound study to evaluate the factors leading to increased incidences of heart diseases among the African American populations with a view of providing a solution to it (Evans, 2009). As aforementioned, the commonest heart disease condition is known as the coronary heart disease. This condition occurs as a result of defective coronary vessel. The result of a defective coronary artery is heart attack. Many African American women who have cardiovascular disorders untreated usually end up in heart attack. The condition is known for worsening with time if left untreated in most individuals. Risk factors for heart diseases include high blood pressure, which is common in African Americans. High blood pressure can cause a number of damages on the heart leading to other diffuse defects in the circulatory system. High blood pressure is synonymous with stroke as well as congestive heart failure making the African American women more vulnerable to the condition as compared to other races. It has been noted that the black women have increased tendencies of developing high blood pressure in early life making them increasingly at risk of developing heart diseases. It is estimated that about 37% of black women have hypertension and hence are at higher risks of developing stroke and congestive heart failure (Evans, 2009). Lifestyle factors like diets are also key players in the development of the heart diseases. Exercise or physical activities reduce the chances of developing high blood pressure. Most African American women have reduced physical activities. This is due to increased number of obese individuals among the black populations. They also feed on diets having high amounts of salt. Such diets can subject individuals to hypertension and consequently heart diseases (Bransford & Ofili, 2000). Generally, women have increased tendencies of developing heart diseases with advancement of age. Beyond menopause, women’s body production of estrogen hormones stops. Lack of this hormone increases the risks in developing hypertensive disorders in women. Other factors like smoking are also rampant among the black women. Smoking is directly associated with a number of diseases including heart disease (Winham & Jones, 2011). A number of black women have high blood cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is responsible for most of the heart diseases through blocking and clogging of the vital blood vessels. The blocking of the coronary blood vessel is as a result of high circulatory cholesterol. On the other hand, most black women are overweight and obese. Heart diseases are synonymous with vast weight. Obesity and overweight is also associated with sedentary lifestyle as well as reduced physical activities. This makes the African American women at higher risks of developing heart diseases. Additionally, other systemic diseases like diabetes are common in African Americans and are some of the common cases of heart diseases (Peterson, 2011). Operationalization According to Burns and Grove (2001), a study must have a designed approach for identifying problems in question. In the event of creating a way of answering the questions surrounding the problem is called methodology. Methodology seeks to find the answers to the questions that the study enlisted. In this study, participants must be selected with specific attributes, data has to be categorically collected and analyzed in a proper way. Dissemination of this data must also be ensured. Proposed Method of Observation As aforementioned, the need to evaluate the factors that increase the susceptibility of the African American women to heart diseases is to be explored in this study. Moreover, the study seeks to explore the extent the common conditions among the African American women that leads to the development of heart diseases. This study therefore proposes a qualitative method to obtain necessary information about this. Qualitative methods are usually used to obtain insights on whether individuals have enough information concerning a particular event. This study explores the availability of awareness among the African American women concerning the heart diseases. This method is enhanced by the purpose of the study that targets at finding the relationship between African American decency and heart diseases (Peterson, 2011). This study will be created on a qualitative idea. It will get the responses from the participants through a qualitative phenomenology and using it to enlist various features that lead to heart diseases among the African American populations. This research is elaborate from its topic and objectives that purport to trigger the attributes of the participants. This method will give the participants chance to demonstrate their esteemed ability in understanding the purpose of this study. Moreover, the method allows the participants to share the experiences they have in respect to the research questions. This method is suitable for this study since it ensures in-depth depth data from the participants’ in respect to their knowledge of heart disease in Camden (Bolton & Wilson, 2005). Data collected in this study will be taken from a face to face interview. The researchers will engage face to face questioning with open ended and semi structured interviews. This will allow the researcher to obtain access to non-anticipated information. This type of interview will also ensure consistency in obtaining purpose of the research (Gerrish & Lacey 2006, Parahoo, 2006). The interviews will be recorded as well as note writing. The participants will be made aware of recording the responses during the interview. Notes will include the observations made by the interviewers. The data collected will then be stored in a safe way in accordance to the protocols of the research. After a successful formulation of data, the notes will be destroyed. Since this is a qualitative research, the questions shall be guided by the participants’ responses. Parahoo (2006) explains that qualitative studies aim at evaluating the experience in participants making the questions for each participant different. The researcher will indulge the participants into elaborative questioning for more clarity. This research will require the research to create a good rapport during the interviewing to enable them access the important information. The researcher will ensure that they avoid assumptive thought during the study in order to ensure precision during the study. In the participant’s own words, the researcher will record the information to ensure accuracy during the process (Sadler et al., 2005). This study will consult the participants and enquire on the most convenient time for interviews. The researcher will comply with the participant’s suggestion to ensure that they avoid the interruption of normal duties. The researcher will use the contact forms to schedule the interview with the participants. The interviews will be carried out in a serene environment with warning signs against interruptions. The interviewer and the respondent should both be free and healthy at the time of interview to prevent bias (Lutfiyya et al., 2008). Sampling Plan Population is the selected group of people who are fit to participate in a study. Population must meet specific requirements in order to fit for the study (Polit & Beck, 2006). Additionally, sample refers to the portion of the population that has been selected for a study. Gerrish and Lacey (2006) explain that a sample must be obtained from the population and must also bear specific characteristics in order to participate in the study. This study will take sample from African American women residing in Camden –New Jersey. These women will be selected to participate in the study to fulfill the aim of the study as indicated in the topic. For this study, a small manageable size of sample would be recommended to ensure a synthesized data. The research presumes a detailed approach seen in various qualitative research studies. This type of sampling ensures that the right information is found from the right African American women. Additionally, such definitive samples will be relevant for this kind of explorative research study. This research will use a smaller number of (10) African American women residing in Camden-New Jersey. From this sample, selected participants would be picked at random for a pilot study (Dubbert et al., 2010). Inclusion criteria focus on the attributes necessary for redefining the members of the population (Burns &Groove, 2001). 1. The participants must be African American women 2. They must be of post-menopause age 3. Must be residents of Camden-New Jersey Exclusion criteria will strictly focus on women who are non African American with ages lower than pos-menopause age. Permission to interact with the participants will only be done on the account on research ethics warranted by a relevant committee. Letters for invitation shall then be circulated to the participants in homes and work places. This letter of information will assure the willing individuals of confidentiality during the study as well as maintaining anonymity. Consequently, the participant will get more detailed information from the letter that will thank them for agreeing to participate in the study. The letter will also have a space for particulars of the participants as well as a consent form which will be signed during this interview. Copies shall be made to the relevant committee (Sadler et al., 2005). From the form, the participants will get various directions on how to fill in the forms for important information. All the information must be provided by the participants appropriately and will be assessed by the intended researcher. The intended researcher will also provide his information alongside the participants form. These forms will then be analyzed and assessed for any errors before the study begins. Proposed Plan of Analysis As proposed by Clarizia et al., (2009), seven steps in a phenomenology study ensure that the true purpose of the study is achieved. 1. Researcher reads the entire transcript to bring the understanding to the participants. 2. Significant statements are noted 3. Formulated meanings are made from every excerpt 4. Meanings are put together to create commonness. 5. All the above steps’ results are grouped to create common pattern data 6. A detailed description must be invented for the phenomenology study 7. Participants are allowed to validate findings to ensure that nothing is omitted Ethical Considerations The relevant approval board must approve the research. The participants will be highly regarded and safeguarded. Anonymity will be maintained throughout the study to ensure confidentiality. Exploitation and harm to the participants will be avoided. The participants will be allowed to consent at will before they participate in the study. Pseudonyms will be used to represent the participants for purposes of confidentiality (Peterson, 2011). Ethical issues that may emerge from a qualitative research in most cases are more subtle than those encountered in experimental research or surveys. Ethical issues in qualitative studies are normally related to the method used in qualitative studies that often involves long-term close personal relationship with the participants (Birch, Jessop, Mauthner, & Miller 2002). In qualitative studies, practical ethical issues that may emerge include informed consent and responsibility to the participants. Informed consent should be obtained from all the participants who will take part in the study as long as they are capable of such consent. Informed consent also stipulates that participants should be informed about the overall goal of the study and the features it entails, as well as the benefits and risks participants are likely to encounter if they choose to take part (Birch, Jessop, Mauthner, & Miller, 2002). Consent can be obtained from participants verbally or in a written form. Since this study will involve minors/children, it is evident that they are incapable of issuing consent on their own. Hence, consent of whether students will participate or not will be obtained from teachers. Ethics in qualitative research also require that a researcher to be responsible to the participants. The responsibility of the researcher include thing like ensuring confidentiality, giving feedback about the results, reciprocity and avoiding harm. In ensuring confidentiality in this study, the researcher will not disclose private data that can identify participants or ask them to disclose information that is too personal. Anonymity will be ensured in the study by not recording the name of participants on the questionnaires or any other information sheet. Moreover, to ensure anonymity, verbal consent will be used as opposed to written consent. The study will also be conducted in a manner that minimizes risks to the participants will maximizing the potential for benefits. The ethical principle of justice will also be observed during the research whereby abuse and exploitation of participants will be avoided at all cost. Time for Research The research is estimated to be able to take 3 years. This will be broken down to chronological schedules that will be appended on the forms. Limitations of the Study and Conclusions Limitation for the study might include the response bias. The study may not be very accurate in exploring the individuals’ exact responses. However, the analyses will ensure that biases are harmonized. The public is the potential audiences for the report. The report will be disseminated as an article in newsletter as opposed to holding seminars. This is because, most people are informed and newsletter reaches a wider market. References Bolton, M. M., & Wilson, B. (2005). The Influence of Race on Heart Failure in African-American Women. MEDSURG Nursing, 14(1), 8-16. Bransford, T., & Ofili, E. (2000). 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Sadler, G., et al., (2005). “African-American womens perceptions of their most serious health problems.” Journal of National Medical Association, 97(1), 31–40 Winham, D. M., & Jones, K. M. (2011). “Knowledge of young African American adults about heart disease: a cross-sectional survey.” BMC Public Health, 11(1), 248-258. Doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-248 Read More