Introduction
The negative impacts of heart disease affect various communities and populations. The fight against these ailments is an urgent task of the modern healthcare system, and to address all issues, effective interventions are crucial. In order to describe a potentially productive practice in combating heart disease by using an example of a particular social group and location, the African American community of Kings County, NY, will be analyzed. By identifying valuable impacts and planning objectives, one can consider the features of working with the target population in the context of dealing with heart problems. Increasing physical activity and counteracting obesity are the most significant tasks, and the involvement of modern innovative technologies may be useful.
Basic Health Behavior Indicators
Out of 62 positions in New York, Kings County is ranked 17th, which is a good indicator, but regarding the factors of healthy behavior, some points are alarming (County Health Rankings & Roadmap, 2019). For instance, the average physical inactivity in New York is 19%, while in Kings County, this parameter is 26% (County Health Rankings & Roadmap, 2019). Concerning adult obesity, this rate in the county is slightly lower than in New York (23% and 26%, respectively), but it is also high (County Health Rankings & Roadmap, 2019). As a result, these parameters are the factors that stimulate the development of heart disease among African Americans, and competent interventions are essential in order to prevent the growing trend of poor outcomes.
Process, Impacts, and Outcome Objectives
The goal of this study is to improve the indicated parameters of health behavior and determine how specific interventions can contribute to this objective. According to Carnethon et al. (2017), mortality from heart disease among African Americans is higher than in other categories of the population, which explains the need for an intervention. In order for the work to be effective, it is essential to propose impacts that will address such elements as knowledge, behavior, and the environment. This will provide comprehensive assistance and help maintain the new regime successfully.
Firstly, understanding and accepting the problem is necessary for the target audience. As Carnethon et al. (2017) argue, among African Americans, cultural attitudes toward body size may be medically erroneous. Accordingly, people should be aware of the optimal parameters of a healthy person, and the popularization of physical activity, along with the correction of eating habits, can be a valuable way to achieve positive results.
Secondly, to address the indicator of health behavior, applying modern exposure systems can be effective. Carnethon et al. (2017) note “the lack of consistency between certain types of physical activity and African American self-identity,” as well as “a low desirability for certain activities” (p. e400). In other words, people of this social group are not used to certain types of training and do not consider them sufficiently useful. In order to change this, the introduction of digital resources, such as electronic applications on mobile devices, can be a valuable step. The use of innovative opportunities can engage the target audience of different ages and create a convenient and interactive training system.
Finally, addressing environmental features is a significant aspect of the intervention. According to Barber et al. (2016), African American neighborhoods often affect the health of citizens negatively since the social norms of behavior are conducive to the development of heart disease. To solve this issue, special educational work in the community is necessary so that people could appreciate the importance of physical activity and rejecting bad eating habits as crucial life aspects. Meetings and discussions with representatives of the healthcare sector may have a positive impact and help improve the current situation.
As a basic outcome objective, it is proposed to implement increased physical activity with dietary control among the target population. The Kings County African American community can participate in the program voluntarily, and the appropriate promotion of a healthy lifestyle can be an effective incentive to engage as many people as possible. Based on the results of the intervention, the outcomes will be summarized regarding health indicators, and the assessment of the level of heart disease will be analyzed to make a comprehensive assessment.
Mission and Smart Objectives
The mission of the presented program is to convey the importance of a healthy life and, in particular, the significance of increasing physical activity and improving eating habits to reduce the risk of heart disease. This thesis is key in the context of working with the African American population of Kings County. As smart objectives to achieve through the intervention, the following goals are set:
- To introduce advanced digital learning tools with interactive and individual training modes.
- To expand the county citizens’ knowledge of the issues addressed.
- To promote cultural interest in physical activity and good eating habits.
Conclusion
To address the problem of heart disease among African Americans in Kings County, promoting health behavior changes is planned by increasing physical activity and reducing obesity. The intervention will also aim at expanding the knowledge of the target audience about the existing problem and minimizing the cultural impact of the environment. Addressing the designated health issue through introducing modern digital learning tools and involving community members in collaboration may be successful steps.
References
Barber, S., Hickson, D. A., Wang, X., Sims, M., Nelson, C., & Diez-Roux, A. V. (2016). Neighborhood disadvantage, poor social conditions, and cardiovascular disease incidence among African American adults in the Jackson Heart Study. American Journal of Public Health, 106(12), 2219-2226. Web.
Carnethon, M. R., Pu, J., Howard, G., Albert, M. A., Anderson, C. A., Bertoni, A. G.,… Yancy, C. W. (2017). Cardiovascular health in African Americans: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 136(21), e393-e423. Web.
County Health Rankings & Roadmap. (2019). Kings (KI). Web.