Collaborating with faith-based organizations and municipalities to increase hypertension awareness

BackgroundConversations involving health status of underrepresented minority demographics in the U.S. often ascribe the burden of poor health to individuals rather than systemic conditions. Research has shown that ignoring the role of these conditions on health and socioeconomic status undermines community-based morbidity and mortality reduction efforts. But, while systemic approaches are paramount, the importance of healthcare institutions and professionals making meaningful relationships with community members remains essential.This study describes medical student efforts in creating relationships with individuals and community stakeholders in the Gwinnett County area to address hypertension awareness. Awareness of hypertension, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, impacts the percentage of adults with uncontrolled hypertension. Hispanics, Asians, and African-Americans suffer the worst outcomes due to a number of factors including but not limited to access to healthy foods, attending appointments, insurance status, and socioeconomic status.To better address this issue we have initiated a student-led hypertension project, in partnership with a local faith-based organization and municipal cultural events, that provides blood pressure (BP) screenings to minority communities. To our knowledge, this is the first initiative of its kind in our area that seeks to directly address hypertension with minority residents. This study aims to determine the relationship between one’s blood pressure awareness and the subsequent BP reading obtained. We also seek to discover what the strongest determinants of BP are in this setting. MethodsParticipants presented to a screening table at community service events. Anova and Fisher’s exact test determined the relationship between covariates, blood pressure awareness, and blood pressure results. Multiple linear regression estimated the effect of knowing one’s blood pressure on the systolic and diastolic blood pressure. We hypothesized that the more the average patient was aware of their bp, the lower their bp reading. ResultsA total of 50 participants aged 18 and older (54% Black, 22% Hispanic, 16% White, mean age, 45.40) received blood pressure screenings at two separate community service events and were asked if they did (n = 36) or did not (n = 14) know what their blood pressure was normally. People who affirmed this had significantly higher diastolic blood pressure (80.61 vs. 70.71 mmHg; p = .0323), were older (48.69 vs. 36.93 yrs; p = .0187), were more likely to monitor their blood pressure, and were White. In unadjusted linear regression, knowing one's blood pressure was associated with a 9.9% (p < .05) higher diastolic blood pressure. In sbp analysis, the strongest predictors were Black and Hispanic race, but in dbp analyses, the strongest predictors were the participants knowing what their blood pressure was. Unadjusted and adjusted multiple linear regression returned no significant difference in systolic blood pressure. ConclusionUnadjusted analyses showed a positive relationship between blood pressure reading and awareness. Nonetheless, Black and Hispanic participants were more likely to be unaware of their blood pressure, highlighting the importance of targeted, community-oriented awareness initiatives addressing healthcare disparities.