RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Historically, black men of African descent have been disproportionately affected by prostate cancer compared with Caucasian men. African-Caribbean men are generally at higher risk of prostate cancer, with Jamaican men noted to have the highest incidence in the world. No robust evidence exists for the increased incidence among Jamaican men, or indeed, a clear explanation for the reasons these men are at a greater risk of developing the disease in comparison with other African-Caribbean men. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A literature review was undertaken. The findings indicated that black men of African descent, specifically Jamaican men, are at greater risk of prostate cancer and this finding applies to Africa, the Caribbean, the UK and USA. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence for the higher incidence of prostate cancer among Jamaican men remains inconclusive and does not provide a clear explanation for its prevalence. More comparative studies are required to identify any predisposing factors responsible for this anomaly, worldwide. The involvement of health professionals in these research undertakings is important to obtaining insight into prostate cancer and in devising strategies to improve management and health outcomes.
Assuntos
População Negra , Neoplasias da Próstata/etnologia , Região do Caribe/epidemiologia , Dieta , Detecção Precoce de Câncer , Disparidades em Assistência à Saúde , Humanos , Incidência , Jamaica/epidemiologia , Jamaica/etnologia , Estilo de Vida , Masculino , Prevalência , Risco , Fatores de Risco , Reino Unido/epidemiologia , Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
PURPOSE: Determine the extent to which the lifestyles of Jamaican men with hypertension met the guidelines of the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7). DESIGN AND METHODS: Following informed consent, a convenience sample of Jamaican men with hypertension (n = 48), of African ethnicity, attending a Type 5 Health Center was interviewed over a four week period, using a 31-item interview schedule. RESULTS: Mean age of respondents was 65.2 (± 12.1) years (range = 35-89 years) with 33% having blood pressure (BP) controlled to 130/80 mmHg. Those meeting the guidelines were normal weight 23 (47.9%), DASH (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) diet zero, medication 7 (14.6%), exercise 14 (29.2%), alcohol restriction 38 (79.2%), and smoking cessation 40 (83.3%). Medication adherence was associated with BP control (r = -0.30, p < .04). More than half of the respondents believed that hypertension could be cured and that they could stop all treatment if their BP was normal. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Only a third of the sample had BP controlled to ≤130/80 mmHg. Adherence to the JNC 7 lifestyle guidelines was inadequate. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: A nurse led intervention, focusing on perceptions and lifestyle practices, is indicated.