|
...programs cooperatively the anticipation providing a culturally appropriate arthritis self-help program for older, rural faith-based African Americans population. The participating population was derived from five participating faith-based organizations within rural Jackson County Florida. A total of seventy-five participants completed one of the five six-week courses offered. Local community member teams trained by the National Arthritis Foundation conducted courses. The teams consisted of qualified church leaders trained to facilitate specific course materials to participating church or community members who have or are providing care for someone with arthritis.
**********
Throughout history churches have tradition ally been associated with the health and healing process. Numerous church and faith-based groups have recurrently sponsored hospitals and drug rehabilitation centers. More commonly, today churches and their pastors are including health, as well as alcohol and other drug prevention (AOD) programs, as a part of the church setting through their ministries (Sutherland & Harris, 2001). The promotion of these programs in the church setting is a combination of spiritual, educational, environmental, advocacy, social, and community organizational activities directed toward members of a community of faith (Miller, 1998). Within the African American community in particular, churches are a social and cultural gathering site and can serve as a key community-gathering center. Levin (1984) asserts the importance of the African American church stating; "The black church is the most important social institution in the black community and is the conservator of the black ethos." Many current studies of faith-based programs in African-American communities demonstrate the promise of these efforts (Trulear, 2000; White & de Marcellus, 1998; Foundation Center, 2001). Furthermore, church-based health promotion programs are tremendously effective in encouraging changes in behavior within the African-American community. The church provides an authoritative platform for disseminating health information, providing social support, obtaining resources and client referrals, and encouraging and developing cooperative relationships within the community for health promotion activities (Irwin, 1997). Churches have established an organized infrastructure; i.e., governance structure, through which mutual support for behavior change can be facilitated (Murphy, 1992). This important infrastructure has provided African American churches the imperative ability to not just reach the individual but also reach the entire family as a unit. Church-based health education programs are especially effective in reaching African American women who are 65 years of age and older. (Kumanyika & Charleston, 1992) This explanation is derived from the fact that 75% of older African Americans belong to a church. These individuals are more likely to participate in heath promotion programs within the church (Ransdell, 1995).
SELF-HELP PREVENTION PROGRAMS
Self-help intervention programs have developed into significant components in the struggle to reduce common hindrances associated with arthritis and its mobility limitations. These programs have provided unique strategies for the individual living with arthritis, or the individual providing care for those persons with arthritis. Numerous intervention strategies have proven effective in reducing the burden of illness, thus increasing health related quality of life.
ARTHRITIS
The numerous forms of arthritis affect more than 15% of the U.S. population--over 43 million persons--and more than 20% of the adult population. In 2001, 49 million American adults reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis and another 21 million reported chronic joint symptoms, making arthritis one of the nation's most common health problems. As the U.S. population ages, this number is likely to increase dramatically. For example, the number of people aged 65 or older who have arthritis or chronic joint symptoms is projected to nearly double from 2001 (21.4 million) to 2030 (41.4 million) (MMWR 2001).
Arthritis also affects 50% of people aged 65 years and older. (HP 2010). This disease consistently limits 3% of the entire U.S. population (7 million persons), nearly one out of every five persons with arthritis. Major limitations of activities from this disease include limited capacity within the workplace, school, and domestic activities. As a consequence, arthritis limits the independence of affected persons and disrupts the lives of family members and other caregivers (HP 2010). Arthritis has a considerable economic impact as well. Arthritis causes at least 44 million visits to health care providers, 744,000 hospitalizations, and 4 million days of hospital care per year. It is estimated that medical care costs for persons with arthritis were $15 billion, and total costs (medical care plus lost productivity) were $65 billion in 1992. Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions are among the most prevalent chronic conditions in...
NOTE: All illustrations and photos
have been removed from this article.
Looking for additional articles?
Search our database of over 3 million articles.
Looking for more in-depth information on this industry?
Search our complete database of Industry & Market reports by text, subject, publication
name or publication date.
About Goliath
Whether you're looking for sales prospects, competitive information, company
analysis or best practices in managing your organization,
Goliath can help you meet your business needs.
Our extensive business information databases empower business
professionals with both the breadth and depth of credible,
authoritative information they need to support their business
goals. Whether it be strategic planning, sales prospecting,
company research or defining management best practices -
Goliath is your leading source for accurate information.
|
