Understanding Health Care Information for African Americans With High Blood Pressure

The purpose of this study is to develop a culturally sensitive intervention focused on health literacy that is designed to reduce high blood pressure (HBP) in a vulnerable African American (AA) population. A community-based participatory research approach delivered by community health workers (CHW) will be used to address the following specific aims: Aim 1. To examine the effect of health literacy on self-care skills, including HBP knowledge, adherence to HBP and substance abuse treatment recommendations, communication skills, health care utilization, and BP outcomes in AAs with HBP. Aim 2. To conduct a pilot randomized, controlled trial with a delayed intervention control group to test the effectiveness of a health literacy-focused self-help HBP intervention program using CHWs in 100 AAs who reside in Baltimore City.

Inclusion criteria

• Self-identified as African American aged 18 years or older;
• Systolic BP >140 and/or Diastolic BP >90 mmHg or SBP >135 and/or DBP >85 mmHg for individuals with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease or on HBP medication; and
• Has a land-based telephone in the home or a cellular phone.

Exclusion criteria

• Participation in another ongoing trial;
• Acute and/or terminal condition precluding participation, such as terminal cancer;
• Hospitalization for stroke, myocardial infarction, coronary artery vascularization in the past 3 months;
• Recipient of an organ transplant or on kidney dialysis; and
• Psychiatric diagnosis precluding participation, such as schizophrenia or cognitive impairment as measured by Mini-Mental State Exam (score < 24)