Sharable Learning Object

Increasing Awareness of Nutrition Concerns of Blacks and African-Americans

A Supplement to a Nutrition or Clinical Nursing Course

Hammed A. Agboola, Ph. D.
Natural Science Division
Wilberforce University
and
Susan Praeger, Ed.D,
College of Nursing and Health
Wright State University

Description

The purpose of this sharable learning object is to present a lesson plan with on-line strategies for incorporating content and experiences regarding the issue of lipids and African American nutrition to students in a nutrition course, as a supplement to a clinical nursing course, or as an independent or elective studies course.

Background

This sharable learning object was developed as an example of an on-line learning experience that could be delivered either entirely on-line or as a supplemental on-line component of a larger course. It was designed to prepare pre-health professional students in understanding concepts of nutrition with special emphasis on the impact of lipids on the health of Blacks and African-Americans. While the audience may be any pre-health professional student, this content was specially developed for students at an Ohio Historically Black College and University (HBCU). With a national health goal to eliminate disparities in health care and the need to increase diversity in the health care workforce, the experiences in this lesson plan can enhance the understanding of a major health disparity in the U.S.

The sharable learning object is designed as part of an undergraduate course that would help its graduates to be competitive in applying for post-baccalaureate professional health preparation programs. This sharable learning object could also be used by nursing faculty in creating an elective course for students who have already completed a traditional nutrition course or as a supplement to a clinical course to emphasize the nutritional needs of African-Americans as an example of promoting cultural competence in health care in relation to nutrition.

This sharable learning object was developed by Hammed A. Agboola, Ph. D., Associate Professor in the Natural Science Division at Wilberforce University. For additional information or to discuss this sharable learning object with Dr. Agboola, you can contact him at:

Hammed A. Agboola, Ph. D.
Natural Science Division
Wilberforce University
P. O. Box 1001
Wilberforce, OH 45384
(937) 708-5674 or Hagboola@wilberforce.edu

Suggested Text Books for the Study of Nutrition:

Introduction

This sharable learning object is a lesson plan is designed to help learners appreciate the concerns people have regarding the relationship of certain types of lipids to health promotion and health disorders with a focus on Blacks and African-Americans.

Nutrition information on cholesterol (in particular) has caused disagreement among scientists and medical personnel leading to confusion for the general public. This is because atherosclerosis, a risk factor of coronary heart disease, has been associated with elevated blood cholesterol. Cholesterol is found mainly in animal products making the public believe that consuming animal products may lead to myocardial infraction (heart attack). However, cholesterol consumed (as an exogenous source from diet) is often confused with the cholesterol actually produced by our body (as an endogenous source from liver and small intestine). It is possible for one to be a vegetarian and still have an elevated level of total blood cholesterol because 80% of it originates from the endogenous biosynthesis just described.

In a course on nutrition, students learn how the various groups of macromolecules (lipids, protein, carbohydrate, etc) contribute to human nutrition and health. This lesson plan will include activities to further enlighten students on basic lipids profile: cholesterol, lipoprotein, fatty acids and triglycerides and their importance to health for African-Americans including an understanding that coronary heart disease risk (CHDR) is caused by number of factors and blood lipids are just one of them. Other factors such as diabetes, obesity, smoking, genetics, inactivity and many related social factors can be discussed.

The sharable learning object in this course includes 7 activities that are designed to enrich, supplement and add to the student’s understanding of nutrition in relation to the Black and African American population. The activities in the sharable learning object can be used as assignments, as opportunities for critical thinking, as a springboard for discussion on the science of nutrition or the application of strategies to help people promote better nutrition practices. The activities are selected to correspond to the major topics included in a course on nutrition but are not intended to replace the foundational basis of a study in nutrition.

Major Course Topics Related Lesson Plan Activities to Promote Critical Thinking and Cultural Competence.
General Introduction

Objective: Students will be able to explain the theoretical framework of human nutrition as it applies to Blacks and African-Americans to classify and describe human nutrients.
  • Exploring anatomy & physiology of human digestive system.
  • Theoretical view of some techniques used in determining nutrient composition of food.
  • Classification of macromolecules: carbohydrate, protein and various classes and their implication in human nutrition and health.
  1. Listed below are a few names of African-Americans who have made contributions to the understanding of nutrition, thereby contributing to a stronger theoretical basis of nutrition. Read about some of these individual and others. Meet in an on-line chat room with 4 classmates and discuss these contributions and their impact in understanding nutrition and/or the nutrition of Blacks and African-Americans.
    George Washington Carver, Rebecca J. Cole, Marie Maynard Daly, Jocelyn Elders, Lloyd Jones, Cecil McBay, Henry Ransom, Norbert Rillieux
  2. Listed below are a few resources regarding nutrient composition and its relationship to African-American diets. Critique these articles in terms of scientific merit and cultural competence or bias. What areas of discussion are overlooked in the literature regarding nutrient composition? Spend 30 minutes discussing this topic in an on-line chat room and post your conclusions so others can see it.
Lipid Metabolism

Objective: Students will be able to analyze the risk factors of Blacks and African Americans associated with elevated cholesterol; and describe medical and dietary strategies for addressing this problem.
  • Lipids in human nutrition, digestion, synthesis and deposition of triglycerides.
  • Origin and metabolic fate of lipoprotein.
  • Synthesis and deposition of cholesterol.
  • Atherosclerotic plaque & cellular injury theory of atherosclerotic plaque.
  • Clinical implication of blood cholesterol.
  • Cost/benefit ratio of cholesterol reduction by dietary modification and medication interference.
  1. Conduct a library data base search regarding the implications of blood cholesterol levels in and Blacks and African-Americans. Identify at least 8 recent peer-reviewed research articles on this topic. In your on-line chat group of 4, discuss the conclusions of the 8 articles and summarize in writing (on the discussion board for the whole class to see) how these articles added to your understanding of the issue of cholesterol levels.
  2. Find 3 evidence-based articles comparing medical and dietary interventions as strategies for reducing cholesterol levels that focus on Blacks and African Americans as the study population Discuss issues of methodology, cultural competence and bias that might have been controlled for in the study.
Nutritional Requirements During the Human Life Cycle

Objective: Students will be able to describe unique nutritional needs of Blacks and African-Americans during different phases of the life cycle.
  • Pregnancy and Lactation.
  • Infancy, Childhood and Adolescence.
  • Adulthood and the Later Years.
  • Enteral Nutrition Support.
  • Parenteral Nutrition Support.
  1. Read one print or on-line research article regarding the unique nutritional needs of Blacks and African-Americans during a specific developmental life stage. Describe how culture influences nutrition choices and consequent health risks during the life stage that is being focused on. Submit a three-page essay summarizing your findings and your discussion of cultural influences. Your conclusion should include suggested strategies to promote nutritional health while respecting cultural values. Submit this paper on-line into the designated assignment area. Below is an example of a potential research article that could be read for this assignment.
    Comparison of bloodstream fatty acid composition from African-American women at gestation, delivery, and postpartum by Stark, Beblo, Murthy, Buda-Abela, Janisse, Rockett, Whitty, Martier, Sokol, Hannigan and Salem. http://www.jlr.org/cgi/content/abstract/46/3/516
Nutrition and Health Implications

Objective: Students will be able to identify risk and protective factors of Blacks and African Americans in relation to selected health disorders.
  • Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders.
  • Lower Gastrointestinal Disorders.
  • Liver, Gallstones and Renal Diseases.
  • Diabetes.
  • Obesity.
  1. In small groups, or individually, select one of the disorders indicated in the course content list. This activity is designed to help you understand the risk and protective factors of Blacks and African-Americans in relation to the disorder, as well as to examine how that information is communicated to Blacks and African-Americans. This assignment can be discussed in an on-line chat and posted in the discussion board, or it can be submitted electronically as a written assignment.
    1. Conduct an Internet search for health information for the public related to the selected disorder. Specify which search engine(s) you used for this search. Read at least 20 prominent (governmental, health care facility, or professional or non-profit organization) and two commercial (.com) discussions of this disorder. Note how many of them specifically addressed Blacks or African-Americans in their discussion of risks, protective factors and intervention strategies.
    2. Analyze your findings in relation to the type of source of information. And how that information presented could influence Blacks and African-Americans to better understand and take action to reduce the risk for the selected disorder.
Future outlook of Nutrition in Human Health

Objective: Students will be able to locate national health goals related to Blacks and African Americans.
 
  1. Starting with the United States Department of Health and Human Services (http://www.usdhhs.gov) locate the on-line site for the national health goals (http://healthypeople.gov). Select one of the leading health indicators for health of the nation and read the most current documentation regarding the health of African-Americans in relation to this leading health indicator. Discuss on-line in the chat room with 4 classmates why the health of African-Americans are at risk in relation to this leading health indicator compared to other groups in the U.S. as it relates to nutritional practices. The national health goals include outcome criteria. Discuss the implications of this outcome criteria (objectives) in terms of advocating for changes in local, state or national nutritional policies. Post a summary of your conclusions on the discussion board for all to see,

This material is based upon work supported by the Ohio Learning Network. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ohio Learning Network.

As part of a partnership to increase diversity in the healthcare workforce in Ohio, Dr. Hammed A. Agboola of the Natural Science Division at Wilberforce University undertook this project in collaboration with Dr. Susan Praeger of the College of Nursing and Health at Wright State University.

Wilberforce University