title: Nursing contributions to the elimination of health disparities among African-Americans: review and critique of a decade of research.
abstract: The excessive burden of disease experienced by African-Americans has long been described by authorities in the public, private, and professional sector as a national health concern. Several reports have been published in the peer-reviewed literature that describe the outcomes of nurse-directed studies aimed at addressing the factors associated with the disparities experienced by African-Americans and these reports were also aimed toward the design of interventions to reduce and/or eliminate them. However, little is known about the scope, quality, and impact of these efforts relative to the promotion of health and the prevention of disease among African-American population groups. This report presents the results of a review, analysis, and critique of reports of outcomes of nursing research aimed toward reducing health-related disparities among African-Americans. These reports were described in a selected group of African-American nursing organizations and journals dedicated to providing a fonrum for the discussion of issues focused on cultual diversity, transcultural nursing, and multicultural health care issues. Included among the journals were the Journal of the National Black Nurses Association, the Journal of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty, the Journal of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, the Journal of Cultural Diversity, the Journal of Transcultural Nursing, and the Journal of Multicultural Nursing and Health. Results of the review, reported in two parts, the later of which will be reported in an upcoming edition, revealed that this body of nursing research provides the profession with a broad base of knowledge and insights. This knowledge is relative to the individual and familial impact of cardiovascular disease, cancer diabetes, HIV/AIDS, mental health and mental illness, and sickle cell disease within the African-American community. Knowledge and insights relative to the concerns and needs of childbearing, parenting, the elderly, caregivers and caregiving in African-American population groups is essential if health care disparities are to be truly eliminated. This review, analysis, and critique also revealed several gaps and limitations within this body of nursing research.
authors.affiliation: American Cancer Society Oncology Nursing Professor, Northwestern Mutual Life Research Scholar, School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53201, USA. underwoo@uwm.edu
authors.forename: Sandra Millon
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.forename: Aaron G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Buseh
authors.forename: Mary K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Canales
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Powe
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dockery
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kather
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kent
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015399:Nursing Research; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology