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Lessons from implementing community‐based group classes for severe hypertension
Author(s) -
Bulgin Dominique,
Whitney Colette A.,
Bakovic Melanie,
Kang Yunah,
Granger Bradi B.,
Biola Holly R.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/phn.12881
Subject(s) - attendance , medicine , blood pressure , reimbursement , health promotion , gerontology , family medicine , ethnic group , peer pressure , community health , health care , public health , nursing , psychology , social psychology , sociology , anthropology , economics , economic growth
Abstract Due to the impact of persistent structural racism, Black men have low rates of hypertension treatment and control despite having high rates of hypertension‐related mortality. Peer‐based education can improve blood pressure monitoring and lower blood pressure in Black men with hypertension. To address this disparity, we implemented weekly community‐based group classes for severe hypertension at a Federally Qualified Health Center. After 9 months, 28 classes were held and 96 individuals were served. Fifty‐six percent of the person‐hours of attendance have been by Black men. Seven individuals were interviewed about their perspectives and preferences for the classes. They reported that the peer‐based model of the group classes was advantageous, and they would recommend the classes to a friend. Successes of implementation included (a) ability to facilitate medication adjustments for participants with blood pressure readings that were over target goal, (b) capacity to give participants take‐home blood pressure monitors, (c) and the community‐centered approach. Challenges included variability in attendance by participants and retention of individuals with uncontrolled hypertension in primary care. These findings have implications for other Federally Qualified Health Centers seeking to design similar health promotion programs and policy makers evaluating the funding and reimbursement models for community‐based disease management programs.