This research assesses the quantitative analyses included in four journal articles dealing with the health of human beings, wherein nutrition is one facet of the functional health of older persons. Each article is assessed separately, and no comparison is made between articles.
High levels of cholesterol are widely held to be significant in the development of coronary heart disease. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death of black persons in the United States (Wiist and Flack, 1990). High levels of cholesterol are widely thought to be a function, in part, of individual diet and nutrition (Wiist and Flack, 1990). One valuable intervention in efforts to control cholesterol levels, and, in turn, the incidence of coronary heart disease, is widely held to be education in diet and nutrition. The purpose of this study was to test the implied hypothesis that education in diet and nutrition would lead to a lowering of cholesterol levels (Wiist and Flack, 1990). Thus, the dependent variable in the research was the serum cholesterol level, while the independent variable was participation or non participation in a diet and nutrition education program. The effects of two other variables sex and formal education level which might intervene in the relationship between cholesterol levels and participation or non participation in an education program were also measured.
Cholesterol screening (using a Reflotron) and other coronary heart disease risk factor screening was conducted in six neighborhood churches with predominantly black memberships, and at a community library located in the same neighborhood. Through this screening, 348 persons with cholesterol levels of 200 milligrams per deciliter or high were identified. One half of these 348 individuals were invited to attend a nutrition education class for one hour per week for a period of six weeks. In addition to the information provided in the class, pri...