Call to Action: Academic Nursing's Role in Redesigning Health Care to Reduce the Human and Financial Cost of Health Inequities.

Health equity is an aspirational goal for health outcomes that can be achieved when systemic inequalities are addressed. The human cost of health inequities is without number; we can and must ameliorate health inequities. This essay summarizes the impact of continued health disparities and inequities in the United States and outlines the ways in which increasing diversity in the nursing workforce and graduating equity-minded nurses can promote innovation and problem-solving to address these disparities and inequities.

An Examination of Psychological Stress, Fatigue, Sleep, and Physical Activity in Chinese Americans.

Chinese Americans comprise the largest Asian subgroup in the U.S. Yet, little research has focused on the well-being of this population.

Simulation in PhD Programs to Prepare Nurse Scientists as Social Justice Advocates.

Nursing students seeking a PhD often learn only conceptually about principles such as diversity and inclusion, social determinants of health, and interprofessional team science. With only a conceptual understanding of these important elements, future nurse scientists may not fully understand their role as advocates for social justice for vulnerable populations. Students' real-life or hands-on experiences in these areas are often mentor dependent.

Sleep moderates the association between arterial stiffness and 24-hour blood pressure variability.

Background: Arterial stiffness and increased blood pressure variability (BPV) are important subclinical cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Evidence is accumulating that poor sleep is associated with subclinical CVDs. The purpose of our study was to investigate how sleep was related to arterial stiffness and BPV.

Early Identification of Patients at Risk for Incident Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Novel Approach to Echocardiographic Trends.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) continues to increase in prevalence with a 50% mortality rate within 3 years of diagnosis, but lacking effective evidence-based therapies. Specific echocardiographic markers are not typically used to trigger alarm before acute HFpEF decompensation. The goal of this study was to retrospectively track changes in echocardiographic markers leading to the time of incident HFpEF hospitalization.

Health beliefs and medication adherence in patients with hypertension: A systematic review of quantitative studies.

Objective: This review synthesizes findings of quantitative studies examining the relationship between health beliefs and medication adherence in hypertension.

Methods: This review included published studies in PubMed, CINHAL, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases. Studies were included if they examined beliefs of patients with hypertension.

Health Beliefs and Medication Adherence in Omanis With Hypertension.

Background: Patients' health beliefs are essential to improve medication adherence among patients with hypertension.

Objective: Our objective was to examine the relationship between (1) patients' beliefs about hypertension, medication, and self-efficacy and medication adherence and (2) medication adherence and blood pressure control in Oman.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 215 participants with hypertension.

Relationship Between Medication Adherence and Health Beliefs Among Patients with Hypertension in Oman: Pilot study.

Objectives: The prevalence of hypertension (HTN) in Oman is alarmingly high and patient adherence to antihypertensive medications is inadequate. This study aimed to assess the relationship between medication adherence and health beliefs among Omani patients with HTN.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional pilot study was conducted in December 2015 and included 45 patients with HTN recruited from four primary health centres in Al Dakhiliyah and Muscat governorates, Oman.

Measures of Ventricular-Arterial Coupling and Incident Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Matched Case-Control Analysis.

Background: Evidence continues to demonstrate increasing prevalence, cost, and mortality implications of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), but clearly defined parameters that distinguish between control subjects and HFpEF have not been established.

Objectives: This study was designed to detect differences in markers associated with Ventricular-arterial coupling and HFpEF when comparing matched case and control groups.

Methods: A study cohort of case (incident patients with HFpEF; n = 155) and matched control (patients with no prior heart failure; n = 155) groups was retrospectively identified.

Augmentation Index and Pulse Wave Velocity--Agreement of Two Indicators and Relationships to Blood Pressures.

Aims: The purpose of the study was to investigate the agreement between carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and augmentation index adjusted at heart rate 75 bpm (AI@75) and to examine the relationship of AI@75 and cfPVW to demographic factors and blood pressures (BPs) in Korean Americans.

Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of a previous data setfrom 102 Korean Americans. AI@75 and cfPWV were measured using the SphygmoCor equipment.

John Henryism Active Coping, Acculturation, and Psychological Health in Korean Immigrants.

This study aimed to explore the levels of John Henryism (JH) active coping and its association with acculturation status and psychological health (specifically perceived stress, acculturative stress, anxiety, and depression) in Korean immigrants to the United States. In 102 Korean immigrants, JH active coping was measured by the JH Scale; acculturation by the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale; perceived stress by the Perceived Stress Scale; acculturative stress by the Social, Attitudinal, Familial, and Environmental Scale; anxiety by the State Anxiety Subscale of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; and depression by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. The levels of JH active coping in this sample of Korean immigrants appear to be lower than the levels reported in other racial groups.

Heart failure preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF): an integrated and strategic review.

In the USA, 5.7 million Americans ≥20 years have heart failure (HF) and heart failure preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) accounts for at least 50 % of all hospital admissions for HF. HFpEF has no single guideline for diagnosis or treatment, the patient population is heterogeneously and inconsistently described, and longitudinal studies are lacking.

A Critical Evaluation of the Representation of Black Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction in Clinical Trials: A Literature Review.

Background: In the United States, heart failure costs $34.4 billion annually and is associated with a mortality rate of 20% within 5 years of diagnosis. Heart failure preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) accounts for 50% of all hospital admissions for heart failure.

The patient-centered outcomes research institute: research done differently.

Background: The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) was authorized by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 to fund comparative clinical effectiveness research to provide reliable evidence to help patients and their healthcare providers make informed decisions.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe the synergy between nursing research and PCORI funding priorities, discuss unique aspects of PCORI funding, and identify the implications for nurse researchers.

Discussion: Goals of nursing research are well aligned with PCORI interests.

Exploring moderating effects of John Henryism Active Coping on the relationship between education and cardiovascular measures in Korean Americans.

Objective: John Henryism Active Coping (JHAC) is defined as a strong behavioral predisposition to cope with stressors in an effortful and determined manner. The well-known inverse relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and blood pressure (BP) has been hypothesized to be stronger for individuals who have high JHAC than those with low JHAC, suggesting that JHAC may place people with low SES at higher cardiovascular risk. Previous studies testing this hypothesis have presented mixed findings; therefore, this study was conducted to test the JHAC hypothesis by examining the main and interaction effects of SES and JHAC on cardiovascular risk (measured by BP and arterial stiffness [AS]).

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI): information for academic nursing.

As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, the U.S. Congress created the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

The effect of anxiety and depression on symptoms attributed to atrial fibrillation.

Background: Symptoms attributed to atrial fibrillation (AF) are nonspecific, and it remains unclear what influences perception of symptoms. Anxiety or depression may be important in modulating perception of AF symptoms. However, few longitudinal studies have addressed this effect.

The Pediatric Obesity Initiative: development, implementation, and evaluation.

Purpose: Pediatric obesity rates have nearly tripled over the past three decades contributing to increased morbidity and mortality in the United States and around the world. Pediatric obesity is most prevalent in developed countries and affects all races, ethnicities, cultures, and age groups. To combat this epidemic locally, a team of dedicated providers developed a comprehensive evidenced-based toolkit and training program for clinical practices providing primary care services to children in a North Carolina county.

Morning blood pressure surge and nighttime blood pressure in relation to nocturnal sleep pattern and arterial stiffness.

Objective: The phenomenon of morning blood pressure (BP) surge (MBPS) is known to increase the risk for cardiovascular events and stroke. The purposes of this study were to explore associations between MBPS and nighttime BP and to examine arterial stiffness and sleep pattern in association with MBPS.

Methods: This study included 30 healthy Korean American women aged 25 to 60 years.

Freedom of choice and adherence to the health regimen for African Americans with hypertension.

The prevalence of hypertension in African Americans exceeds that of all other racial/ethnic groups in the world. Hypertension in African Americans is less likely to be controlled and this problem is further complicated by failure to adhere to prescribed hypertension management regimens. Oftentimes, health care providers give African American patients with hypertension multiple health "rules" to follow that may arouse reactance behaviors: that is, patients may choose to do the opposite of what they are told to do.

Relationships among acculturative stress, sleep, and nondipping blood pressure in Korean American women.

Generally blood pressure (BP) should drop or dip by 10-20% during sleep. The phenomenon of nondipping BP during sleep has gained interest because of its association with various damaging effects to end-organs. This exploratory study examined nighttime nondipping BP, acculturative stress and quality of sleep in 30 Korean American women.

Psychological stress and arterial stiffness in Korean Americans.

Objective: Arterial stiffness is identified as a causative factor for hypertension. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between psychological stress and arterial stiffness in Korean Americans.

Methods: A convenience sample of 102 Korean Americans (aged 21-60 years, 60% women) was recruited from North Carolina.