08 Mar In this journal, examine the methods section of each article. Completing a table will help you see similarities and differences. Be sure to address these specific critical ele

• IHP 525 Final Project Article Review: Articles List
• Option 1
• Option 2
• Option 3

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3

The Gender Differences in the Occurrence of Depressive Symptoms among Patients Diagnosed with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)

Deanna Buchanan

1

SNHU

Background

Topic

This project resulted in the creation of the research question: "What are the gender differences in the occurrence of depressive symptoms among patients diagnosed with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)?" As a result of my professional and personal interests in cardiology, gender, and the effects of depression on patient health, I decided to focus on the two articles from Option 3. Understanding gender differences in these conditions is important for promoting better health outcomes and reducing the burden on the healthcare system in light of the rising prevalence of depression and heart disease and the potential exacerbation of depressive symptoms due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Biostatistics

An important function for biostatistics is in elucidating why ACS patients of different sexes experience different levels of depression and physical discomfort. Biostatistics offers a thorough method of diagnosing, analyzing, and treating such problems using simple and succinct tests and visual help. The insights gained from biostatistical analysis can assist healthcare professionals in making informed and accurate treatment decisions for individual patients, and could uncover contributing factors to the differences in symptoms between males and females. For example, the information gathered could reveal more effective treatment options for males compared to females based on their differing self-reported symptoms, as both genders may respond differently to treatments mentally and physically.

Moreover, the biostatistical analysis can help provide a more comprehensive view of the prevalence of these symptoms in different populations, including their correlations with other factors such as age, lifestyle habits, and co-morbid conditions. With the increasing emphasis on personalized medicine, this information can be crucial in developing more targeted and effective treatments for ACS patients who show signs of depression. Additionally, the insights gained from this analysis can also inform public health policies and healthcare resource allocation, ensuring that the needs of all affected populations are met.

Article Selection

Specific Articles

These articles were of great interest to me as they delve into two crucial health issues: depression and cardiac problems. Personally, I have a strong background in cardiac health and also struggle with depression. This has allowed me to see the impact of gender bias, implicit or explicit, on the quality of care received by cardiac patients. Understanding the effects of this bias can help medical professionals provide more informed and accurate care to their patients. Additionally, the information could guide the development of gender-specific treatment options that better address the needs of both men and women. With a better understanding of these issues, I am motivated to continue advocating for better care and support for those affected by heart disease and depression.

Decision making

The study conducted by Doering et al. (2010) showed that women experience more anxiety and less control over their health compared to men in similar circumstances. The findings indicated that when women with depression or depressive symptoms feel more in control of their lives and health, their depressive symptoms decrease. However, these conditions can be remedied with proper interventions, potentially reducing their severity or eliminating them altogether.

In a separate study, Frazier et al. (2012) examined the connection between gender, self-reported symptoms of somatic symptoms, and depression. The research found that women were more likely than men to have depressed symptoms. Additionally, women reported more somatic symptoms, such as issues with appetite, sleep, and general malaise, compared to men. These symptoms were found to be a reliable indicator of depression in these women.

References

Doering, L. V., McKinley, S., Riegel, B., Moser, D. K., Meischke, H., Pelter, M. M., & Dracup, K. (2010). Gender-specific characteristics of individuals with depressive symptoms and coronary heart disease. Heart & Lung, 40(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2010.04.002

Frazier, L., Yu, E., Sanner, J., Liu, F., Udtha, M., Cron, S., Coulter, S., & Bogaev, R. C. (2012). Gender differences in self-reported symptoms of depression among patients with acute coronary syndrome. Nursing Research and Practice, 2012, 1–5.

https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/109251

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Article Findings

Deanna Buchanan

SNHU

The first article was “Gender-specific characteristics of individuals with depressive symptoms and coronary heart disease” (Doering et al., 2010).

This article discusses different aspects of life of individuals with depressive symptoms and coronary heart disease (CHD). Specifically, the author identifies the differences of anxiety, education, employment and social status between males and females. A cross-sectional design was used where 1951 participants with CHD and depressive symptoms were given questionnaires that measure the different characteristics. According to the results, less employment, poor education and high anxiety were observed in females compared to males. It also reports that females are more likely to be single compared to males. Perception of lower control over health was high in females compared to males.

The author reported odds ratio for comparison of unemployment (OR 2.52, P < .001), education (OR 2.52, P < .001), marital status (3.61, P < .001), anxiety (OR 1.14, P < .01) and perception of lower control of health (OR 1.34, P < .01) between females and males. The p-values are less than the level of significance (0.05) indicating the differences are statistically significant.

The second article was; “Gender differences in self-reported symptoms of depression among patients with acute coronary syndrome” (Frazier et al., 2012).

In this article, depressive symptoms and somatic depressive symptoms were examined on patients hospitalized with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) to determine whether there was a difference in both between males and females. Results showed that women had greater depressive syndrome compared to males. It also shows that somatic depressive symptom was more prevalent on women compared to men. These findings are helpful in resources allocation as more resources will be concentrated to the most affected group. Women will be given more attention to stabilize the depression difference.

Descriptive statistics and statistical tests were calculated in this article. Specifically, the mean, standard deviation and p-values for independent samples t-test were calculated to help in comparison of depressive symptoms between males and females. According to the results females had higher mean (mean = 11.89, S.D. = 9.68) than men (mean = 9.00, S.D. = 7.93) (P < 0.000). This helps in making conclusion on whether the differences were statistically significant.

Reference

Doering, L. V., McKinley, S., Riegel, B., Moser, D. K., Meischke, H., Pelter, M. M., & Dracup, K. (2010). Gender-specific characteristics of individuals with depressive symptoms and coronary heart disease. Heart & Lung: The Journal of Critical Care, 40(3), e4–e14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2010.04.002

http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cedm&AN=20561880&site=eds-live&scope=site

Frazier, L., Yu, E., Sanner, J., Liu, F., Udtha, M., Cron, S., & . . . Bogaev, R. C. (2012). Gender differences in self-reported symptoms of depression among patients with acute coronary syndrome. Nursing Research & Practice,1–5. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/109251 http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=86826621&site=eds-live&scope=site