Background
Summary of Studies
In the June 2020 Issue, BMC Medical Genetics published an article explaining how ancestry and genetics played a role in increasing diabetes infections among the Hispanic populations. The research by Chande et al. (2020) provides reasonable arguments to support the thesis that the Hispanic population is the most susceptible to type 2 Diabetes. By using polygenic risk scores, the authors investigate the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the Latino population. The article concludes that the genetic risk of contracting this condition is positively correlated with African and Native American ancestry and negatively correlated with European ancestry.
The significance of the article by Chande et al. (2020) in the field of nursing is to help health professionals understand the correlation between genetics and type 2 diabetes. This article is also important because it solves the dilemma as to why Latinas are more susceptible to the disease, thus helping people in the healthcare industry formulate preventive measures targeting the affected groups. The article’s objective is to prove that the Hispanic population is more susceptible to type 2 diabetes.
The article by McCurley et al. explains the impact of stress on increasing diabetes risk among US Hispanics. It applies a quantitative study to examine the relations between chronic stress and fasting glucose, glucose tolerance, and glycosylated hemoglobin in Hispanics without diabetes (McCurley et al., 2015). The study also ascertains the indirect effects of chronic stress on health, which is a natural response to inflammation.
This article’s significance to nursing lies in determining whether chronic stress is a critical factor in increased diabetes risk among Hispanics in the US population. The results of the research would enable nurses to find the treatment best suited for patients whose diabetes is a result of chronic stress. The article’s objective is centered around establishing whether chronic stress makes US Hispanics more susceptible to diabetes. The article provides compelling reasons to support the research question; hence, this study is relevant to the nursing practice.
How Articles Support Nurse Practice Issue
Answer the PICOT Question
The two articles support the PICOT question by providing evidence to articulate the identified problem: the susceptibility of the Hispanic population to diabetes. From the findings presented in these articles, it is possible to conclude that ethnic minorities in the United States have a high probability of developing diabetes and other lifestyle diseases. The research will also help formulate an adequate interventional plan to reduce the number of patients with type 2 diabetes.
Interventions and Comparison Groups with PICOT Question
The interventions suggested in the articles entail reducing stress factors within the environment of Hispanics by encouraging them to avoid sedentary lifestyles, which increase the risk of diabetes. These interventions are legitimate and could indeed help Hispanics minimize their chances of contracting this disease. However, the offered solutions differ from those identified in the PICOT question, which is to prevent risky behavior among patients, which leads to type 2 diabetes. This will help the affected population understand that their genetic predisposition and stress levels decrease the chances of avoiding this condition.
Both studies use quantitative methods as the primary research strategy. This methodology entails collecting and analyzing numerical data to make predictions and identify relationships based on the patterns and trends in the data. Chande et al. (2020) perform gene analysis of different group participants, which is correlational research. In contrast, McCurley et al. (2015) collect numerical data of the target population by resorting to deductive hypothesis testing.
Method of Study
Methods of the Articles and their Differences
Both studies use quantitative methods as the primary research strategy. This methodology entails collecting and analyzing numerical data to make predictions and identify relationships based on the patterns and trends in the data. Chande et al. (2020) perform gene analysis of different group participants, which is correlational research. In contrast, McCurley (2015) collect numerical data of the target population by resorting to deductive hypothesis testing.
Benefits and Limitations of Methods
The benefit of correlational research is that the test variables do not need to go through a manipulative process to collect data. The disadvantage of this method is that it only reveals relationships between the variables and not the results observed. As for deductive research, it allows more time to apply the results obtained. However, the deductive methodology does not offer room for other arguments because the test is conducted from a pre-meditated hypothesis.
Results of Study
Key Findings
The key finding from Chande et al.’s research is that in the United States, Native Americans, Hispanics, and African Americans are more likely to develop diabetes than other groups. Hispanics, originally from Latin America, have a higher diabetes prevalence than those outside the US. The number of patients with the same disease is similar among Asian Americans and descendants from South America. Mexican Americans have twice as high a disease prevalence as Native Americans (Chande et al., 2020). Therefore, it is evident that having genetic ancestry with any of the aforementioned ethnicities increases the risk of diabetes.
McCurley et al.’s article show that people suffering from chronic stress are more susceptible to diabetes, especially the representatives of the Hispanic population. The reason for the higher probability lies in the excess of fasting glucose in the organism. The more glucose they had, the more likely they were to develop diabetes (McCurley et al., 2015). Other factors that showed a correlation between these two conditions included age, level of income, and education level.
Implications in Nursing Practice
The findings of these two studies suggest that nurses ought to associate minority groups with the risk of developing diabetes. By acknowledging that there is a correlation between these two variables, it will be possible to develop an intervention plan that targets the Hispanic minority groups. Subsequently, they will be able to adapt and maintain healthier lifestyles and avoid chronic stress, decreasing the overall risk of diabetes.
Outcomes Comparison
Anticipated Outcomes
Initially, I assumed that that the factors precipitating type 2 diabetes included an unhealthy lifestyle, lack of access to adequate healthcare, and other stress factors. I have considered the possibility of genetic predisposition, but it was related to family medical history. Overall, the general advice to avoiding or managing most health conditions is maintaining healthy habits and I also anticipated that it would be advised by the results of the studies.
Comparison of Actual Outcomes with Anticipated Outcomes
The actual findings of the researches have partially confirmed my expectations. The revelation that the Hispanic minority group is more susceptible to type 2 diabetes surprised me. However, my assumption neglecting health in general increases the risk of sustaining the disease was confirmed. As I expected, the researchers encouraged people to manage daily stress since it is a direct causative factor for diabetes, especially in Hispanics.
References
Chande, A. T., Rishishwar, L., Conley, A. B., Valderrama-Aguirre, A., Medina-Rivas, M. A., & Jordan, I. K. (2020). Ancestry effects on type 2 diabetes genetic risk inference in Hispanic/Latino populations. BMC Medical Genetics, 21(2), 1-14. Web.
McCurley, J. L., Mills, P. J., Roesch, S. C., Carnethon, M., Giacinto, R. E., Isasi, C. R.,… Gallo, L. C. (2015). Chronic stress, inflammation, and glucose regulation in U.S. Hispanics from the HCHS/SOL sociocultural ancillary study. Psychophysiology, 52(8), 1071-1079.