Health promoting behaviors of African-American registered nurses.
The purposes of this study were: (1) to describe the health promoting behaviors of African-American nurses, (2) to add to the health promotion data base for African-American women, and (3) to pilot test a self-administered questionnaire developed by the investigators for use in a larger study of the health-promoting behaviors of middle class African-American women. The sample consisted of 49 African-American registered nurses recruited from members of a nursing sorority. Selected criteria for the subjects were female, college graduate, and a middle class standard of living. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the likelihood of engaging in health-promoting behaviors. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the findings in terms of frequency and percentage distribution. The results indicated that the African-American nurses had high percentages of adherence to the following health-promoting behaviors: minimal alcohol consumption, avoidance of smoking, cholesterol screening, assessment of blood sugar levels, monthly breast self-examination, pap smears, mammogram screening and regular measurement of blood pressure. Lower percentages of adherence were reported for two health-promoting behaviors: diet and exercise. Results of this study support the need for the incorporation of diet and exercise into all health promotion intervention programs for African-American women. Implications include additional research to validate the findings of this study.
Guidry
M L
ML
Adult Health Nursing in the College of Nursing at Prairie View A&M University in Houston, Texas, USA.
Wilson
A M
AM
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health