Nurse Faculty Scholars - Cross-Cultural

Demands of Immigration, Health Literacy, and Depression in Recent Latino Immigrants

lsharp — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:57:13 +0000

Published Date:

Mon, 2010-02-01 (All day)

Latino immigrants have unique stressors that can influence mental health. The challenges of adapting to a new society include language barriers, separation from family, and feelings of loss, which can lead to depression. Low health literacy may make it difficult to obtain health care services, and depression may then go untreated. This secondary data analysis examined the relationships of immigration demands, health literacy, and depression in a sample of recent Latino immigrants. Depressive symptoms were a significant problem; 26% of the participants reported symptoms that were suggestive of depression. Furthermore, low health literacy and greater immigration demands predicted higher depression scores. The study suggests that recent Latino immigrants would benefit from health literacy training, education on depressive symptoms, and better access to mental health services. Latinos who do access health care services need to be screened for depression; furthermore, home health care nurses can promote access to support and health care services.

Methods to Optimize Recruitment and Retention to an Exercise Study in Chinese Immigrants

nfs — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:37:45 +0000

Published Date:

Sun, 2007-04-01 (All day)

BACKGROUND: To counter pervasive disparities in healthcare and guide public health prevention programs, culturally sensitive recruitment and retention strategies for Chinese immigrants participating in health-related research studies are needed. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop and implement recruitment and retention strategies with Chinese immigrants in a Tai Chi exercise study. METHODS: After substantial project planning and incorporating community-based research principles, a multidimensional approach was used to ensure minimal loss to follow-up. Recruitment strategies included partnering with a community-based agency, distributing study information using a multimedia approach, communicating in the native language, and demonstrating cultural sensitivity. Retention strategies included establishing a tracking method during recruitment, providing personalized feedback, maintaining the same location for all aspects of the study, eliminating potential linguistic barriers, providing personal attention and encouragement, monitoring attendance, utilizing a charismatic Tai Chi instructor, respecting Chinese culture, providing appropriate incentives, and maintaining good communication. RESULTS: Sixty persons showed interest in the study, 52 persons were screened, and 39 persons were enrolled. Recruitment was completed within 3 weeks. An advertisement in the Chinese newspaper was the most fruitful recruitment source, yielding approximately 60% of the study participants. Retention in the study was also very high (97%, n = 38). DISCUSSION: The successful recruitment and retention of Chinese immigrants in this Tai Chi exercise study are due to a variety of factors on many levels, including the participants, study investigator, and community-based agency.

Negotiating Three Worlds: Academia, Nursing Science, and Tribal Communities

nfs — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:58:44 +0000

Published Date:

Wed, 2009-04-01 (All day)

The purpose of this article is to use a cross-cultural model to guide the exploration of common issues and the dynamic interrelationships surrounding entrée to tribal communities as experienced by four nursing research teams. In the article, the members of four research teams discuss the primary lessons learned about successful strategies and challenges encountered during their projects' early stages. It was found that understanding the cultural values of relationship and reciprocity is critical to the success of research projects conducted in Native American communities. Conducting cross-cultural research involves complex negotiations among members of three entities: academia, nursing science, and tribal communities. The lessons learned in these four research projects may be instructive to investigators who have the opportunity to conduct research with tribal communities.

Culture Brokerage Strategies in Diabetes Education.

nfs — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:41:20 +0000

Published Date:

Wed, 2008-10-01 (All day)

The purpose of this article is to describe the elements of culture brokerage as applied in a recent educational pilot study among rural African Americans with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Culture Brokerage is a nursing intervention consisting of mediation between the traditional health beliefs and practices of a patient's culture and the health care system. The intervention of Culture Brokerage holds particular relevance for clinicians who work with chronically ill patients, including those with diabetes. Diabetes prevalence rates continue to rise with alarming swiftness, affecting people of all age groups and ethnicities. The burden of disease, however, disproportionately falls on ethnic minority groups, including African Americans. Notable health disparities in the prevalence and long-term complications of diabetes warrant the attention of health care professionals. One way in which public health nurses can address these disparities is to apply strategies of culture brokerage

Yemeni Families and Child Lead Screening in Detroit

nfs — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:11:07 +0000

Published Date:

Sun, 2006-12-31 (All day)

This project was an exploratory effort to screen and treat immigrant Yemeni children who were at high risk for lead poisoning. The Detroit metropolitan area is home to the largest number of Arabic immigrants in the United States. In addition, Detroit has the largest rate of childhood lead poisoning in the state of Michigan. No published studies were found that explored the prevalence of lead poisoning among Yemeni children in Michigan. Immigrant children from countries where knowledge of lead poisoning is limited may be particularly vulnerable because of difficulties in language and accessing health care. Children’s Hospital of Michigan CATCH School Mobile Health Center conducted this health-screening project. This article reports on the gender and health issues encountered during the community outreach lead testing effort within a Yemeni neighborhood in Detroit.

Genetic Thrombophilia Variants and Risk for Preeclampsia Among American Indians

nfs — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:19:34 +0000

Published Date:

Sat, 2009-02-14 (All day)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of thrombophilic genetic variants in an American Indian population and determine if they are associated with preeclampsia. METHODS: A total of 87 cases, 165 controls and an additional 75 population-based controls were genotyped for two thrombophilic polymorphisms. RESULTS: The allelic prevalence of the factor V Leiden and 20210 G/A prothrombin variants in this population was 2.1% and 0.5% respectively. No statistically significant associations between these genetic variants and preeclampsia were found. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of thrombophilic variants is of possible public health significance for other morbidity; but perhaps not in relation to preeclampsia.