Nurse practitioners: improving coronary heart disease management in South Asian Canadians

Coronary heart disease rates are much higher amongst South Asian Canadians than any other Canadian ethnic group. This project asks the question, How will a nurse practitioner implement culturally sensitive coronary heart disease interventions to improve the health outcomes of the South Asian population? To respond to this research question, a literature review and analysis of studies describing various research data, as well as perceptions among the South Asian community, was completed. Evidence suggests that the South Asian population has a genetic tendency to coronary heart disease. More importantly, there are environmental, dietary, and lifestyle factors that might also contribute to this higher incidence. South Asians are underutilizing the traditional health service. Research indicates that health services and treatments are not culturally relevant. Madeline Leininger's theoretical framework, which advocates for the theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality, is utilized to examine the literature and used to prepare culturally sensitive coronary heart disease interventions for the South Asian population. In this paper, it is argued that implementation of culturally sensitive coronary heart disease interventions delivered by a nurse practitioner can positively influence the management and the outcome of coronary heart disease in the South Asian population. --P. ii.