Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT00325533

Effectiveness of a Barbershop-Based Program to Improve High Blood Pressure Control and Awareness in Black Men

Black men in the United States have a greater risk of developing high blood pressure than men of any other ethnic or racial group. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a high blood pressure detection and medical referral program conducted by barbers in predominantly Black barbershops at increasing awareness and lowering blood pressure levels among their Black male customers.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Hypertension Cardiovascular Diseases Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Dallas, Texas, 75390-8586, United States

About this study

High blood pressure affects approximately 35% of Black men in the United States. This may be due to the fact that Black men frequently have an unusually high number of risk factors for high blood pressure, including diabetes, high stress levels, and increased salt intake and sensitivity. While high blood pressure can often be controlled through diet, lifestyle changes, or medication, it is a chronic asymptomatic medical condition for which individuals should remain under the care of a regular medical provider. A predominantly Black barbershop may be an optimum and receptive setting for an intervention that focuses on improving the detection and treatment of high blood pressure among Black men. In this study, barbers, deemed as influential peers, will be trained to continually monitor their customers' blood pressure, deliver health messages designed to change risk perception and ideas about healthcare utilization, and provide social support for changes in healthcare-seeking behavior and blood pressure levels. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a barbershop-based intervention at increasing blood pressure awareness and lowering blood pressure levels among Black male customers. With over 18,000 Black barbershops in the United States, the results from this study may be extremely influential in improving the diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure in Black men.

This study will enroll Black men who are regular customers at a participating barbershop. Each barbershop will be randomly assigned to either a 10-month intervention group or a control group. Nurses will train the intervention group barbers to measure blood pressure and deliver health messages related to blood pressure control during each customer's visit. Before and after the intervention, study researchers will interview barbers and customers over an 8-week period to collect information on blood pressure control. A 12-month follow-up visit will include assessments of blood pressure levels, customer recognition of elevated blood pressure levels, and the number of customers receiving regular medical care.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • African American
  • Regular customer at one of the participating barbershops

Exclusion criteria

  • Does not speak English

Treatment and study plan

Baseline BP Screening

Behavioral

Barbers in the barbershops in the experimental arm will be trained to accurately measure and interpret blood pressure (BP). Each barber will offer a BP check to customers with each haircut, complete an encounter form after each haircut, discuss the BP reading with the customer, identify customers with elevated BP, and refer customers with elevated BP to a regular physician or other primary provider for long-term BP management. Each time a customer with elevated BP goes to a regular medical provider, he receives a free haircut, and the referring barber receives a monetary bonus.

Intensive 10-week Blood Pressure Screening

Other

Intensive 10-week Blood Pressure Screening

Primary outcomes

  1. Percentage of customers with high blood pressure who achieve recommended systolic and diastolic blood pressure values

    Time frame: Measured at 12 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Customer recognition of elevated blood pressure levels

    Time frame: Measured at 12 months

  2. Number of customers with high blood pressure with a regular medical provider

    Time frame: Measured at 12 months

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Other

Collaborators

  • Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Registry information

Official study title

Group Randomized Trial of a Barber-Based Intervention to Improve Hypertension Control in Black Men

Important dates

Study start
2006
Primary completion
2008
Study completion
2009
First posted
May 15, 2006
Registry last updated
Jun 12, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.