Social Determinants of Health and Health Beliefs Among African American Women With Chronic Health Conditions and Their Decisions to Participate in Genetic Research
Year: 2010
Type: article
Abstract: The burden of chronic diseases is a growing epidemic throughout the world community.In the United States, it is the leading cause of illness, disability, and death.African American women are disproportionately affected by chronic health conditions.Genetic research is one base from which chronic health conditions can be further investigated and better understood.Advances in the genetic sciences have led to the identification of genes that predispose individuals to certain disease conditions.However, the lack of racial and ethnic diversity in genetic research severely limits the potential for the advancement of its science and clinical application to African American women with chronic health conditions.The purpose of this descriptive-comparative secondary analysis is to examine the social determinants of health and health beliefs that influence urban Midwestern African American middle aged women with chronic health conditions to participate in genetic research.Two integrative theoretical frameworks, the Social Determination of Health and the Health Belief Models, guided this investigation.A convenience sample of 98 African American women, 40 years of age and older, with chronic health conditions, who reside in the Cleveland metropolitan area, participated in one hour face-face structured interviews.Data were collected on several standardized measures such as the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the Perceived Genetic Knowledge and Attitudes.Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation xiii coefficients, and the Independent sample t-test were utilized to answer the research questions that are embedded in this research study.The mean age of the sample was 52 years, with more than half (57%) of the women reporting three or more chronic diseases.Overall, 65% of the women reported that they would be unwilling to participate in genetic research.Although the majority of the women commented that they had positive attitudes towards genetics, in sharp contrast, 43% rated their overall genetic knowledge as poor.Group mean differences were noted in genetic knowledge and attitudes and personal/health beliefs in terms of factors influencing the decisions of African American women to participate in genetic research.Implications from this inquiry can help explore and create novel methods for increasing ethnic and racial diversity in genetic research and improving well-being.
Author: Carolyn Wilma Harmon
Institution: Case Western Reserve University
Language: English
Topic: Ethics in Clinical Research
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1949871061