Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease in Postmenopausal African American Women

Introduction

The study aimed at examining the Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease in Postmenopausal African American Women using Erikson's Role Modeling Theory. Coronary artery disease, sometimes known as ischemic heart disease, is a leading cause of mortality in European countries. The disease accounts for more than 20% of all death incidences reported in high-income countries (American Heart Association, 2012). Over recent decades, the mortality rate of coronary artery diseases has drastically declined, albeit it remains a major public health concern (Brubaker et al., 2012). Coronary artery disease, a form of cardiovascular ailment, occurs when arteries blood vessels become blocked; consequently, depriving the flow of blood in and out of the heart. This is risky since it can result in a heart attack. However, this disease is prevalent among women than in men due to predisposing factors associated with it (Canto et al., 2011). Noteworthy, the research targeted postmenopausal African American women living in Charlotte, NC. This area was selected since the population of postmenopausal AA women (aged above 40 years) was high as reported by the recently conducted Census Bureau.

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The study targeted postmenopausal African American women living in Charlotte, NC. This area was selected since the population of postmenopausal AA women (aged above 40 years) was high as reported by the recently conducted Census Bureau. The findings of the study indicated that education training awareness for the Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease in Postmenopausal African American Women does not have any effect in reducing the body mass index of the participants. There exists a correlation between the weight recorded before and thereafter. However, there was no notable statistical difference in the body mass index (BMI) before and after. Thus, the education training offered to postmenopausal AA women concerning risk factors for coronary artery diseases using Erikson's role modeling theory was not in any way effective. Again, it was established that the majority of the postmenopausal African women were not cognizant of the coronary artery disease risk factors. Many women were inexperienced about the health practices that may help abate CAD.

Interpretation of the Findings

The study hypothesized that the majority of the postmenopausal African women were not cognizant of the coronary artery disease risk factors. The participants had little knowledge about the lifestyle choices that either elevate or significantly decline the risk of a person acquiring heart disease (Georgoulias, 2016). These findings collaborate with those established by the Cooper et al. who observe that the incidence and prevalence of CAD in AA women is that most of them are not aware of the signs and symptoms of the diseases. However, the study revealed that that educating AA women on CAD risk factors had no impact in altering their BMI levels.

For this reason, the researcher asserts that it is critical for Postmenopausal AA women to be educated that the leading cause of death is CAD for their age-group and gender. This is because the knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors remains highly integral in ensuring that individuals make informed decisions about their health, and to engage in positive forms of behavior that are likely to increase risks for CAD, such as lack of exercise, obesity, and consumption of fatty foods (American Diabetes Association, 2016). As a matter of fact, the successful implementation of a program geared towards promoting health depends on the ability to identify the scope and breadth of baseline knowledge of AA women.

What is more, for Postmenopausal AA women to adopt positive behavioral changes, it is imperative for them to be aware of the fact that they are susceptible to the coronary artery diseases (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). Obermeyer, Reher & Saliba (2007) contend that in order for remediating measures to be successful, there should be perceived risks among a given study population. In this sense, knowledge alone may not be sufficient in causing behavior change among AA women as far as the high prevalence of coronary heart diseases is concerned (Baldwin, 2014).

Although many studies collaborate with the researcher's hypothesis that there are lifestyle choices that either elevate or significantly decline the risk of a person acquiring heart disease, the findings of this study disconfirms this assertion. The study found out that the educating Postmenopausal AA on CAD risk factors did not alter the body mass index of the participants. Consequently, this means that there is a need to further conduct studies to have an in-depth understanding of this topic.

Noteworthy, the theoretical framework that was adopted in the study was the Health Belief Model. The framework operates in tandem with the Erickson's role model theory (Rosenstock et al. 2010). It is founded on two assumptions. First, individuals should strive to avoid illnesses and second is that a particular health plan of action helps in minimizing the prevalence of diseases among a given populace (Smith & Parker, 2015). Worth noting, the HBM predicts health behaviors among individuals depending on the beliefs held by the individual (Alligood, 2017). The theory woks on the constructs of the perceived susceptibility which is the opinion held by the individual in regards to contracting a certain ailment (Erickson, 2017). This theory has however been discredited by the study findings since it has been observed that the behaviors exhibited by Postmenopausal AA women did not have any influence in altering the BMI levels even after they were educated on CAD risk factors.

Limitations of the Study

Firstly, there was the generalization of the participants. It was assumed that the participants of this study are representatives of a total number of postmenopausal African American women at risk for CAD. It is noteworthy to mention that the women were selected from one region, Charlotte, NC. Moreover, the selected participants were from the same church. This may have influenced the results of the study since there may be no guarantee that they were aware of the CAD risk factors. Perhaps, the results would have been different if the participants were randomly selected from different parts of the country. Another major problem of generalization is that it only looks for trends to generalize the study findings (Bryman, 2016). Thus, the use of this method may be a major limitation to the study.

Besides, the use of the tape measure in recording the participant's height during the pilot study is another cause of limitation in this study. The use of tape measure could have resulted in recording erroneous measurements. Indeed, such measurements are not reliable in coming up with accurate results. The fact that tape measure only takes measurements of the straight slope was also a major limitation.

Recommendations for Further Studies

Drawing from the limitations and strengths of this study, the researcher makes the following recommendations for future studies:

• Scholars in the nursing realm should conduct further studies on the Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease in Postmenopausal African American Women using Erikson's Role Modeling Theory. However, they should include Postmenopausal AA women from other regions in developed countries. The random sampling technique should be adopted when identifying the study's participants. This will ensure that there is no generalization of results.
• Separate studies should be conducted in other areas since the study was only confined to women in Charlotte, NC. The findings can then be compared and analyzed accordingly.
• Further studies should be conducted that include a control group. This means that besides examining risks factors for coronary artery diseases in postmenopausal African American women, the study should involve white women who have reached menopause. In this way, the researcher can easily examine whether CAD risk factors are more prevalent in African American women than in the Whites.

Implications

The study findings have far-reaching impacts on the social life of the African American women living in developed countries. For instance, the results of the study have disproved the long-held decree that AA women who have attained the menopause stage are at high risk of contracting cardiovascular ailments. This study has found out that even when women are aware of the risk factors associated with coronary artery disease, they did not show any changes in their BMI levels. Besides, the findings will be paramount to the health professionals since they will be in a position to offer advice to patients regarding how to abate coronary artery disease.

As noted, there were limitations in the methodology adopted. This consequently implies that in the future, similar studies should adopt a different methodology. For instance, it has been seen that the researcher had used the tape measure to record the height of the participants. The implications for using more appropriate tools to gather data is that the results will be accurate and reliable.

Moreover, it is recommended that the researcher obverse the highest ethical standards and practices when conducting the study. First, it is important to obtain consent from the participants before conducting the interview (Behi & Nolan, 2011). Again, the researcher should be honest as well to uphold the highest level of integrity possible. This also extends to the methods used in the study. They should be verifiable, accurate, and reliable (Behi & Nolan, 2011). Confidentiality should also be exercised especially if the feedback concerns sensitive issues. Lastly, the researcher should be ready to share his findings with other scholars (Bryman, 2016). These practices are vital since they help promote values that add to collaborative works such as respect and fairness.

Conclusion

In overall, this study has found that education training awareness of the risk factors for coronary artery disease in postmenopausal African American women does not have any effect in reducing the body mass index of the participants. These findings are in sharp contrasts with those established by similar previous studies. The study results have far-reaching social impacts to the women since they can cite the findings to disapprove the wrong-held decree that African American women are at high risk of contracting CAD and other cardiovascular diseases. Drawing from the limitations of the study, it is recommended that further studies be conducted. Separate studies should be conducted in other areas since the study was only confined to women in Charlotte, NC. The new study can also include a control group that comprises the White women. In this way, the researcher can easily examine whether CAD risk factors are more prevalent in African American women than in the Whites.

References

Alligood, M. R. (2017). Nursing Theorists and Their Work-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.American Diabetes Association. (2016). 8. Cardiovascular disease and risk management. Diabetes care, 39(Supplement 1), S60-S71.

American Heart Association. (2012). What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean. Retrieved from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/What-Your-Cholesterol-Levels-Mean_UCM_305562_Article.jsp

Behi, R., & Nolan, M. (2011). Ethical issues in research. British Journal of Nursing, 4(12), 712-716.

Brubaker, P. H., Kaminsky, L. A., & Whaley, M. H. (2012). Coronary Artery Disease: Essentials of Prevention and Rehabilitation Programs. Champaign: Human Kinetics.

Bryman, A. (2016). Social rese...