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Sunday, November 1, 2009: 4:15 PM
Learning Objective 1: describe the value of and procedures for implementation of nursing research in a transcultural setting.
Learning Objective 2: identify the incidence of hypertension and obesity in the population of a rural Chinese community.
Improved socioeconomic status has had a positive effect on the mortality of citizens in many developed countries. In China, while the economy has strengthened, the health status of many rural Chinese has declined.
The purpose of this research was to determine the incidence of obesity and hypertension among a sample of adults within a rural Chinese community. The subjects consisted of a convenience sample of 375 adults who attended a health screening and education event in May 2007 in Da Shi Xiao in north central China. A group of 18 Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) undergraduate nursing students supervised by two IWU faculty members recorded heights and weights, calculated body mass index (BMI), and recorded blood pressures in both arms. Random glucose levels were measured along with urine tests for protein.
The mean blood pressure of this study group was 138/85. Collectively, 23% of the participants would be considered pre-hypertensive, 14% would be diagnosed as having Stage I hypertension, and 19% with Stage 2 hypertension, for a total prevalence of pre-hypertension or hypertension of 56 percent. Seventy-five participants (20 %) had blood sugars equal ³140 mg/dL., and two percent had significant protein in their urine samples. The mean BMI was 24 which is considered overweight according to the Asian version of the body mass index and 54% were considered to be either overweight or obese.
An educational tool was provided to each subject addressing reduced sodium diets, smoking cessation, healthy diet, and exercise. It is hoped that this project will become a longitudinal study which will be continued over the next several years with future groups of IWU nursing students to reassess participants and evaluate whether the newly introduced education about health behaviors has been incorporated into the participant’s lifestyles and any resulting impact on health status.
The purpose of this research was to determine the incidence of obesity and hypertension among a sample of adults within a rural Chinese community. The subjects consisted of a convenience sample of 375 adults who attended a health screening and education event in May 2007 in Da Shi Xiao in north central China. A group of 18 Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) undergraduate nursing students supervised by two IWU faculty members recorded heights and weights, calculated body mass index (BMI), and recorded blood pressures in both arms. Random glucose levels were measured along with urine tests for protein.
The mean blood pressure of this study group was 138/85. Collectively, 23% of the participants would be considered pre-hypertensive, 14% would be diagnosed as having Stage I hypertension, and 19% with Stage 2 hypertension, for a total prevalence of pre-hypertension or hypertension of 56 percent. Seventy-five participants (20 %) had blood sugars equal ³140 mg/dL., and two percent had significant protein in their urine samples. The mean BMI was 24 which is considered overweight according to the Asian version of the body mass index and 54% were considered to be either overweight or obese.
An educational tool was provided to each subject addressing reduced sodium diets, smoking cessation, healthy diet, and exercise. It is hoped that this project will become a longitudinal study which will be continued over the next several years with future groups of IWU nursing students to reassess participants and evaluate whether the newly introduced education about health behaviors has been incorporated into the participant’s lifestyles and any resulting impact on health status.