Hypertension Self-Management Perspectives From African American Older Adults.
Karen O Moss, Carolyn H Still, Lenette M Jones and 2 others
PMID 29954259WHAT IT FOUND
African American older adults identified communication, healthy eating, and sleep as the primary stressors hindering hypertension self-management.
They rejected the term "diet" in favor of "healthy eating" and emphasized that poor communication directly elevates blood pressure.
Key findings
01Participants identified communication, healthy eating, and sleep as the three major stressors related to hypertension self-management.
02Participants described verbal and nonverbal communication breakdowns, particularly via phone or text, as significant stressors that result in elevated blood pressure.
03Participants viewed the term "diet" negatively and preferred "healthy eating and portion control" to describe meal plans conducive to blood pressure control.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The sample was heavily skewed toward women (87%), limiting the generalizability of findings to African American men. The focus groups were large (18 and 13 participants), which may have limited the ability of some members to participate fully. Participants were recruited from a community center and a researcher's registry, which may not represent the broader population of older adults with hypertension. This study describes the co-creation of an intervention but does not report the outcomes of that intervention, which are planned for future publication.
Declared interests
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this paper as evidence that the "Team Learning to Take Control" intervention improves blood pressure outcomes. This study only describes the development of the intervention based on participant perspectives; the effectiveness of the program has not yet been tested or reported.