title: A qualitative perspective of barriers to health-promoting behaviors of African Americans.
abstract: African American mortality and morbidity rates remain alarmingly high. Implementation of health promotion strategies can be effective in reducing these rates. Yet, African American health-promoting behaviors remain inadequate. Exploration of perceived barriers to implementing health-promoting behaviors from a qualitative perspective may lead to a better understanding of African American barriers to healthier lifestyles. The purpose of this study was to explore barriers to health promotion for African Americans from a qualitative perspective. Focus group interviews were held in two southeastern states. The results yielded three themes. These were cost, lack of discipline versus not having enough time, and a lack of motivation. When health care professionals develop treatment strategies for African Americans, these barriers should be considered to aid in the development of more efficacious plans of care.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University, School of Nursing, Nashville, TN 37240, USA. rolanda.Johnson@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Rolanda L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nies
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005195:Family Relations; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012424:Rural Population; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D017748:Time Management; D014505:Urban Population