Taxi METERS: Measuring Effectiveness of Technology, Education, Referrals and Support

Inclusion criteria

• Male
• Hypertensive-level readings over three weeks, with at least two of three elevated BP readings (systolic ≥140 and/or diastolic ≥90); OR
• One hypertensive crisis readings (systolic ≥165 and/or diastolic ≥100) {eligible for the study without having to return for second or third readings} OR
• have a known diagnosis of hypertension and have elevated values at one reading {eligible for the study without having to return for second or third readings}
• Over 19 years of age (we are selecting participants older than three years past the legal driving age of 16, as younger drivers tend to change jobs more often);
• Planning on remaining in NYC for at least 9 months (with no vacations or trips to exceed two months)
• Licensed taxi driver for at least 3 months;
• Speaks English, Spanish, Bengali, Urdu, or French;
• Owns a cell phone that can receive text messages and is willing to receive text messages for this study

Exclusion criteria

• Part-time driver (drives fewer than 35 hours per week). Although it is highly unlikely for NYC taxi drivers to work for multiple garages at study baseline, drivers may switch jobs and/or their garage base affiliation while participating in this study. New jobs and/or garage base affiliations will be tracked during follow-up assessments and noted for potential limitations with study retention and intervention contamination. Drivers will be allowed to continue the study even if they are no longer working with the initial garage base.
• Driver currently has (or has a history of) any CVD including coronary artery disease, angina or aortic stenosis; this does not include hypertension.