Addressing a lack of African American representation in biomedical research: Jackson State University Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center

Background: History has recorded the tremendous concerns and apprehension expressed by African Americans about participating in research studies. This review enumerates the collaborative techniques that were utilized by the Jackson State University (JSU) Jackson Heart Study (JHS) community-focused team to facilitate recruitment and retention of the JHS cohort and to implement health education and health promotion in the JHS communities. Methods: This review describes the evolution of the JSU JHS community initiatives, an innovative community-driven operation, during the period 1999–2018. Results: JSU JHS community-focused investigators published approximately 20 manuscripts, including community-led research and publications with community lead authors and co-authors, research and publications in collaboration with other JHS staff, through other JSU-funded projects. The JSU JHS community-focused unit also initiated the JHS Community Training Activities, developed the Community Health Advisory Network (CHAN), and trained and certified 137 Community Health Advisors. In addition, the JSU JHS community-focused unit developed the Collaborative Community Science Model (CCSM) that symbolized its approach to community engagement and outreach, and a Trust Scale for ascertaining African Americans’ willingness to engage in biomedical research collaborations. Conclusion: This review offers educators, public health professionals, and research investigators a useful starting point for the development, selection, or improvement of techniques to motivate, inspire, and engage community residents in a community–academia partnership that yielded maximum benefits in the areas of health education, health promotion and interventions, and biomedical research. Substantial, meaningful community engagement is possible when prioritizing elimination of health disparities and long-term improvement in health care access in the target populations.

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The Role of Public Health Partnerships in the Success of the Jackson Heart Study Undergraduate Training and Education Center

Ethnicity & Disease ◽

10.18865/ed.30.1.41 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 41-46

Author(s):

Wendy B. White ◽

Frances Henderson ◽

Kisa K. Harris ◽

Amel Mohamed ◽

Asoka Srinivasan

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Biomedical Research ◽

Medical Center ◽

Jackson Heart Study ◽

Undergraduate Training ◽

Shared Resources ◽

Training And Education ◽

Health Partnerships ◽

Heart Study ◽

Health Related

Background: The Jackson Heart Study (JHS) is a single-site prospective epidemiologic investigation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among African Americans from the central Jackson, Mississippi area. The study is a collaboration between Jackson State University (JSU), University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), Tougaloo College (TC), and the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH). The JHS Undergraduate Training and Education Center (JHSUTEC) at TC was developed to increase the numbers of college-aged African American students entering public health and health-related fields. To achieve this goal, the UTEC designed the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) Scholars program.Methods: JHS Scholars are required to take additional classes and participate in public health and/or biomedical research. The scholars engage in research locally during the academic year. However, many scholars participate in research outside of the Jackson Metropolitan area during the summer. Because of this, national collaborators were needed to act as mentors and hosts.Results: Since the inception of the JHSUTEC, more than 15 collaborations have been formed that have shared resources and student successes. As of May 2018, more than150 students have successfully completed the JHS Scholars program and many have continued into careers in public health, biomedical research, and medicine. Since 2004, JHS scholars have published 29 papers and 15 scholars have received diversity supplements.Conclusion: Collaborative activities and public health partnerships have contributed to the success of the JHSUTEC program and have served as a pathway of entry into STEM fields for minority students.Ethn Dis. 2020;30(1):41-46; doi:10.18865/ed.30.1.41

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Abstract P084: Associations of Anger and Hostility with the Metabolic Syndrome: Cross-sectional Analyses from the Jackson Heart Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.125.suppl_10.ap084 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽

Author(s):

Janice E Williams ◽

Sharon B Wyatt ◽

Mario Sims ◽

Thomas H Mosley ◽

Patricia M Dubbert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

African American ◽

Disease Risk ◽

African American Men ◽

Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽

Continuous Variables ◽

Jackson Heart Study ◽

Men And Women ◽

The Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Heart Study

There is evidence that anger and hostility are positively associated with the metabolic syndrome. In turn, the metabolic syndrome mediates the association between anger and hostility and adverse cardiac events. Very little is known about these associations in African-American populations. We assessed the hypothesis that anger and hostility are positively associated with the metabolic syndrome in an African-American cohort. Participants were 2,732 African-American men and women, ages 45 – 95, who were enrolled in the Jackson Heart Study at baseline. Anger was measured using the Spielberger State-Trait Anger Inventory, and hostility was measured using the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale. The metabolic syndrome was defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Overall anger, components anger-in and anger-out, and hostility scores were entered into separate logistic regression models as continuous variables. In models adjusted for age, sex, educational level, and physical activity, higher levels of overall anger (β = 0.024, p = 0.006), anger-in (β = 0.028, p = 0.04), anger-out (β = 0.037, p = 0.04), and hostility (β = 0.021, p = 0.04) were associated with an increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. The correlation between anger and hostility was statistically significant but not strong (r = 0.38, p <0.0001). In men, 5 of the 16 individual anger items were significantly associated with the metabolic syndrome. The strongest was “I lose my temper” (β = 0.395, p = 0.003) and “I tend to harbor grudges” (β = 0.314, p = 0.008). In women, only 1 anger item, “I make sarcastic remarks” (β = 0.189, p = 0.04) was associated with the metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, higher levels of overall anger, anger-in, anger-out, and hostility were associated with an increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in middle- and older-aged African-American men and women. In men, an angry temperament and a tendency to hold grudges were particularly strong correlates of the metabolic syndrome. Increased understanding of the negative emotions anger and hostility among African-Americans may provide greater insights into cardiovascular disease risk in their population.

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What the Jackson Heart Study Has Taught Us About Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in the African American Community: a 20-year Appreciation

Current Diabetes Reports ◽

10.1007/s11892-021-01413-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (10) ◽

Author(s):

Tennille Leak-Johnson ◽

Fengxia Yan ◽

Pamela Daniels

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

African American ◽

African American Community ◽

Jackson Heart Study ◽

Heart Study

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Association Between Cardiometabolic Factors and Dizziness in African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1722949 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Amrita Ray ◽

Christopher Spankovich ◽

Charles E. Bishop ◽

Dan Su ◽

Yuan-I Min ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

African American ◽

African Americans ◽

Noise Exposure ◽

Medication Use ◽

Blood Pressure Medication ◽

Jackson Heart Study ◽

Screening Questionnaire ◽

Heart Study ◽

Cardiometabolic Factors

Abstract Background Balance dysfunction is a complex, disabling health condition that can present with multiple phenotypes and etiologies. Data regarding prevalence, characterization of dizziness, or associated factors is limited, especially in an African American population. Purpose The aim of the study is to characterize balance dysfunction presentation and prevalence in an African American cohort, and balance dysfunction relationship to cardiometabolic factors. Research Design The study design is descriptive, cross sectional analysis. Study Sample The study sample consist of N = 1,314, participants in the Jackson Heart Study (JHS). Data Collection and Analysis JHS participants were presented an initial Hearing health screening questionnaire (N = 1,314). Of these, 317 participants reported dizziness and completed a follow-up Dizziness History Questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was used to compare differences in the cohorts' social-demographic characteristics and cardiometabolic variables to the 997 participants who did not report dizziness on the initial screening questionnaire. Based on questionnaire responses, participants were grouped into dizziness profiles (orthostatic, migraine, and vestibular) to further examine differences in cardiometabolic markers as related to different profiles of dizziness. Logistical regression models were adjusted for age, sex, education, reported noise exposure, and hearing sensitivity. Results Participants that reported any dizziness were slightly older and predominantly women. Other significant complaints in the dizzy versus nondizzy cohort included hearing loss, tinnitus, and a history of noise exposure (p < 0.001). Participants that reported any dizziness had significantly higher prevalence of hypertension, blood pressure medication use, and higher body mass index (BMI). Individuals with symptoms alluding to an orthostatic or migraine etiology had significant differences in prevalence of hypertension, blood pressure medication use, and BMI (p < 0.001). Alternatively, cardiometabolic variables were not significantly related to the report of dizziness symptoms consistent with vestibular profiles. Conclusion Dizziness among African Americans is comparable to the general population with regards to age and sex distribution, accordingly to previously published estimates. Participants with dizziness symptoms appear to have significant differences in BMI and blood pressure regulation, especially with associated orthostatic or migraine type profiles; this relationship does not appear to be conserved in participants who present with vestibular etiology symptoms.

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