Factors associated with depressive symptoms in African American crack cocaine smokers

Few studies have examined factors associated with depressive symptoms in crack cocaine smokers, although cocaine use has been linked to depression. The purpose of this study was to identify correlates of depressive symptoms in a sample of 799 HIV‐positive and HIV‐seronegative African‐American crack cocaine smokers. Multiple regression modelling revealed that anxiety was strongly and positively associated with depressive symptoms. In addition, being female and more frequent crack smoking were also found to be associated. Higher self‐esteem and decision‐making confidence were found to be associated with less often experiencing depressive symptoms. The model accounted for 64% of the variance in the data. It was noteworthy that HIV infection, as such, was not associated with depressive symptoms. The study has important implication for mental health and health promotion interventions targeting crack cocaine smokers.     

The African American experience in the Islamic faith

Disparity of health outcomes has been identified as a key concern in the health of Americans. Marginalization of the African American population may be a contributing factor. Identification of health protectors may prove key in decreasing disparities. The effect of spirituality on health is discussed. A historical overview of the African American experience in the Islam faith, from the Nation of Islam to universal Islam, is presented. A systematic assessment of the Islamic faith, with emphasis on the African American Muslim, was conducted as an assessment for a Community Health Nursing class. Leininger's Sunrise Model of Culture Care Diversity and Universality, with the ethnonursing model of data collection, served as the framework for data collection and analysis. The Islamic faith was noted to offer holistic direction for a "way of life" that promotes health and harmony of the mind, body, and soul. Implications for research were discussed.     

Related factors associated with exercise behavior in patients with peripheral arterial disease

[Purpose] This study aimed to identify the factors associated with exercise behavior in patients with peripheral arterial disease. [Participants and Methods] The study included 43 patients with peripheral arterial disease (mean age, 75.2 ± 5.6 years) who were admitted for endovascular treatment from January 2020 to June 2021. Participants were surveyed through questionnaires to assess their physical function for determining their exercise behavior and the presence of physical, personal, and environmental factors that might have affected their stage of change regarding exercise behavior. [Results] A comparison of physical, personal, and environmental factors between the two groups classified by the presence or absence of exercise behavior showed that subjective health and exercise self-efficacy were significantly lower in the group without exercise. Furthermore, a difference was noted in the presence or absence of work. The adjusted binomial logistic regression analysis results using each of the factors differing between the groups, plus the walking impairment questionnaire total score as explanatory variables, showed a significant relationship with exercise self-efficacy only. [Conclusion] The results of this study showed that exercise self-efficacy presented a useful predictive relationship with the presence of exercise behavior in patients with peripheral arterial disease.     

Positive and negative depression coping in low-income African American women

The purpose of the study was to examine positive and negative depression coping (DC) in low-income African American women. Because low-income African American women have been shown to be vulnerable to depression symptom onset yet less accepting of treatment, DC in this population is of interest to researchers. Depression symptom severity, defense mechanisms, difficult life circumstances (DLC), and social support were examined as possible determinants of DC. In 244 mildly or moderately to severely depressed women, mature defense mechanisms predicted positive DC, and DLC predicted negative DC. Social support had no effect on positive or negative DC. Findings are discussed in terms of individual and community tailored rehabilitative psychotherapy to promote positive DC.     

African American Women's Experiences with Breast Cancer Screening

Purpose: To describe the experience and meaning of breast cancer screening for African American women. Breast cancer screening offers the greatest hope of reducing breast cancer mortality and improving breast cancer outcomes. Despite the proliferation of initiatives targeting African American women, they continue to be first diagnosed only when they have late-stage disease.
Design and Methods: Using hermeneutic phenomenological research methods, 23 low-and middle-income African American women were interviewed to gain an understanding of their experiences with breast cancer screening.
Findings: Participants varied in their experiences with breast cancer screening. Women spoke of a desire for a holistic approach to health that did not separate the breast from the rest of the body. This desire is indicated in the theme of minding the body, self, and spirit, along with themes of relationships and spreading the word about breast health issues.
Conclusions: Interventions for African American women should include a focus on minding the body, self, and spirit to promote breast cancer screening, and should indicate the importance of relationships and spreading the word about breast cancer screening.     

老年人体育锻炼及其对抑郁障碍的影响

目的探讨老年人体育锻炼与抑郁障碍的现状、特点及体育锻炼对抑郁障碍的影响。方法采用《简明老年人抑郁量表》与自编《老年人体育锻炼量表》抽样调查宁波市三类不同生活环境(公共场所、社区及医院)的270名老年人。结果老年人抑郁障碍发病率较高,三类被试的体育锻炼态度及抑郁程度均存在显著性差异;锻炼态度较冷淡、次数较少、时间较短、伙伴较少、锻炼后感觉较累者的抑郁程度较高,反之,抑郁程度较低。结论体育锻炼是预防、减轻和克服老年人抑郁障碍的重要途径。     

Stress-related influences on blood pressure in African American women

The relationship of blood pressure status to three stress-related variables, anger, coping resources, and strain, was evaluated in 90 African American women. The majority of the participants (57%) were normotensive, 32% of the participants reported current use of hypertensive medication, and an additional 16% had a mean blood pressure greater than 140/90 mmHg but were not on hypertensive therapy. From an analysis using ANCOVA, participants in the latter group were found to have significantly higher scores on rational-cognitive coping resources, controlling for age, waist/hip ratio, and pack-years. No significant differences among the blood pressure groups were found in anger or personal strain. Fostering rational-cognitive coping skills, which represent the ability to problem-solve effectively and to set priorities, may be beneficial for African American women and should be evaluated further in a larger sample.     

Factors Associated with Exercise Among Older Adults in a Continuing Care Retirement Community

The objectives of this study were to test a model of the factors that influence exercise activities among a group of older adults living in a continuing care retirement community with a wellness center that features a pool, exercise room, and exercise classes. This was a correlational study using a one‐time survey. A total of 163 residents with an average age of 86.6 years (SD = 6.1) participated in the study. Ninety (55%) of the participants exercised regularly (30 minutes daily), 88% of whom used the wellness center. Of all participating residents, 49% reported using the wellness center. Self‐efficacy and negative outcome expectations directly related to exercise behavior Marital status, resilience, health status, pain, and fear of falling were indirectly related to exercise. All of these factors explained 15% of the variance in exercise behavior. These findings support previous work and provide future direction for research regarding interventions to increase exercise among older adults. Further, access to a wellness center providing exercise opportunities may increase adherence to a regular exercise regimen among older adults.     

A prospective evaluation of the Transtheoretical Model of Change applied to exercise in young people

Objectives

To investigate the utility of the Transtheoretical Model of Change in predicting exercise in young people.

Design

A prospective study: assessments were done at baseline and follow-up 6 months later.

Method

Using stratified random sampling 1055 Chinese high school pupils living in Hong Kong, 533 of who were followed up at 6 months, completed measures of stage of change (SCQ), self-efficacy (SEQ), perceptions of the pros and cons of exercising (DBQ) and processes of change (PCQ). Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA, repeated measures ANOVA and independent sample t tests.

Results

The utility of the TTM to predict exercise in this population is not strong; increases in self-efficacy and decisional balance discriminated between those remaining active at baseline and follow-up, but not in changing from an inactive (e.g., Precontemplation or Contemplation) to an active state (e.g., Maintenance) as one would anticipate given the staging algorithm of the TTM.

Conclusion

The TTM is a modest predictor of future stage of change for exercise in young Chinese people. Where there is evidence that TTM variables may shape movement over time, self-efficacy, pros and behavioural processes of change appear to be the strongest predictors.     

Interventions to promote physical activity among African American women

The lack of routine physical activity among African American women places them at risk for negative health outcomes associated with inactivity. The number of studies focused on African American women has increased dramatically in the past decade. This review examined the intervention research literature testing strategies to increase activity among African American women. Eighteen studies with 1,623 subjects were retrieved. Diverse interventions, settings, and measures were reported. Common methodologic weaknesses included lack of randomization of subjects, single-group design, instruments without documented validity and reliability, significant attrition, and questionable timing of outcome variable measurement. Strategies to design and deliver culturally appropriate interventions are reviewed. Suggestions for future research, such as examining intragroup differences and communal resources, are provided.     

Factors influencing older patients' participation in care: a review of the literature

lyttle d.j. & ryan a. (2010) Factors influencing older patients’ participation in care: a review of the literature. International Journal of Older People Nursing 5 , 274–282
doi: 10.1111/j.1748-3743.2010.00245.x Background. Over the past 10 years, there has been an increase in the literature promoting patient involvement in health care at all levels of the decision-making process. Aim. To review the literature on factors influencing patient participation in care with a particular focus on the perspective of older people. Method. Various search engines were used to conduct the review and articles were identified through the following databases; CINAHL, CSA ILLUMINA, Science Direct, Blackwell Synergy, the Cochrane Library, OVID, SAGE, AHMED, BNI and MEDLINE. Research studies ranging from 2000–2007 were selected for inclusion on the basis that they investigated patient participation and/or older peoples’ involvement in health care. Findings. Seven key themes emerged from the literature: the concept of participation, the need for older people to be involved, autonomy and empowerment, patients’ expectations, benefits of participation, factors influencing participation and precursors to participation. Conclusions. Although patient participation has received considerable attention in the literature, this review highlights the dearth of research from the perspective of older people. There is a general consensus that preference for participation should be assessed and not assumed, and the review offers a sobering reminder that participation should not be achieved at the expense of patient autonomy and choice. Relevance to practice. Quality care and the most productive use of resources are dependent on the public’s engagement with health service providers. However, despite being central to contemporary nursing practice, this review suggests that the reality is not matched by the rhetoric. Future initiatives should focus on supporting nurses and other healthcare professionals to develop the competencies required to facilitate greater participation by older people who wish to become more involved in their care.     

Factors impacting the household and recreation participation of older adults living in the community

Abstract

Purpose: To identify demographic, physical and psychosocial determinants associated with participation in daily activities of community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional design of older adults (≥70 years) from Victoria, Australia, residing in their homes was drawn from a convenience sample. The outcomes were recent participation in household and recreational activities as measured by the Phone-FITT. Explanatory variables included demographics, physical and mental health functioning (Short Form-12 version 2, Geriatric Depression Scale 15). Associations were analyzed through linear regression. Results: There were 244 participants (60% female), with a mean age of 77.5 years (SD 5.7). Higher levels of depression and fewer falls (during the previous year) were independently associated with restrictions in household participation (p?<?0.001, p?<?0.001). For recreational participation, higher levels of depression were associated with restricted participation (p?<?0.001). Conclusion: Screening for depression should be a key component of health assessments with older adults. Untreated depression may lead to lower participation rates in daily activities potentially resulting in social isolation. Fewer falls and restricted household participation were associated, but no association was observed between falls and recreational participation. Further studies are required to explore this association in more detail.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Depression is significantly correlated with the level of participation in daily activities for older adults.

• Health professionals need to screen for depression when working with older adults.