Evaluation of an interdisciplinary group education curriculum for hypertension

Abstract

Hypertension disproportionately affects African American communities. This interdisciplinary, group education curriculum aimed to improve hypertension knowledge, behavioral risk factors , weight, and blood pressure (BP) in an urban African American population with uncontrolled hypertension. Outcomes were assessed with paired t-tests in a pre-post study design. Participants (n = 20) demonstrated a significant increase in hypertension knowledge. Among self-reported health behaviors, maintaining a healthy weight improved significantly. Participants demonstrated significant weight loss at one month compared to baseline, and trended towards significance at three and six months. Participants’ baseline BP was 165/88 mmHg. Decreases in systolic BP trended towards significance at one month (△ = 12.27 mmHg) and decreased significantly at three months (△ = 23.06 mmHg) and six months (△ = 21.44 mmHg). Diastolic BP significantly decreased at one month (△ = 8.37 mmHg) and six months (△ = 8.61 mmHg) and trended towards significance at three months (△ = 7.41 mmHg). This interdisciplinary, group education intervention shows promise for improving hypertension management in African American populations. • This pre-post study assessed if an interdisciplinary, group education program improved hypertension among African Americans. • Post-intervention, participants had improved hypertension knowledge and weight loss. • Participants had a significant decrease of 21 mmHg in systolic BP and 9 mmHg in diastolic BP at six months follow-up.