Abstract
AimTo investigate the meaning of support groups and the features of these groups that African American (AA) women view as improving adherence to high blood pressure (HBP) treatment. The study generated a conceptual model to illuminate features of these groups that influence adherence of AA women to HBP treatment.DesignQualitative research.MethodsUsed focus groups and open‐ended questions to obtain the views of 26 eligible AA women, recruited from South Los Angeles. Line‐by‐line review and coding of interview transcripts were done. The feedback was used to specify a conceptual model depicting the meaning of support groups. The Consolidated Criteria for the Reporting of Qualitative Research guidelines were used.ResultsThe conceptual model depicts the meaning of support groups as information giving/knowledge sharing, emotional or psychological support, instrumental support and coaching, and facilitators and barriers to joining support groups and factors for consideration in forming these groups.
Highlights
Hypertension or high blood pressure (HBP), a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and stroke, affects about 78 million persons in the United States (Go et al, 2014)
African Americans face socio‐economic issues that contribute to the high prevalence and lack of control of HBP: less educational attain‐ ment, lower household income and lack of health insurance coverage (Office of Minority Health, 2014)
This study investigated the meaning of support groups and their features that AA women view as improving adherence to HBP treatment
Summary
Hypertension or high blood pressure (HBP), a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and stroke, affects about 78 million persons in the United States (Go et al, 2014). The HBP prevalence rate of Black/ African Americans (AAs) is one of the highest of any subgroup in the world. African Americans face socio‐economic issues that contribute to the high prevalence and lack of control of HBP: less educational attain‐ ment, lower household income and lack of health insurance coverage (Office of Minority Health, 2014). For AAs with hypertension, lower socio‐ economic status is associated with more unhealthy behaviours and poorer health outcomes (Dubay & Lebrun, 2012; Mansyur et al, 2013). Inner‐city AA women with HBP identified support groups as desirable for enhancing their adherence to treatment (Fongwa et al, 2008). This study investigated the meaning of support groups and their features that AA women view as improving adherence to HBP treatment. The study used focus group interviews to learn from the participants the (a) meaning of HBP support groups, (b) factors that facilitate or hinder their join‐ ing support groups and (c) factors to consider in forming these groups
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