A Faith-Based Intervention to Reduce Blood Pressure in Underserved Metropolitan New York Immigrant Communities

Prev Chronic Dis. 2019 Aug 8:16:E106. doi: 10.5888/pcd16.180618.

Abstract

Minority populations, including Asian Americans, face disparities in hypertension compared with non-Hispanic whites. This underscores the need for culturally adapted programs in settings that reach Asian American communities, such as faith-based organizations. We worked collaboratively with community partners to culturally adapt and implement an evidence-based community blood pressure monitoring program for Asian Americans (Asian Indians, Koreans, Filipinos, and Bangladeshis) in metropolitan New York during 2015 and 2016. The program included regularly scheduled volunteer-led screening and counseling events with congregants at faith-based organizations. Among participants with complete 6-month data (n = 348), health-related self-efficacy significantly improved after 6 months, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure was significantly reduced in some subgroups; reductions were highest in participants who self-reported a previous diagnosis of hypertension. Among Asian Americans, faith-based programs may be a replicable, low-cost, sustainable way to increase health-related self-efficacy and decrease blood pressure, specifically among individuals with self-reported hypertension.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Asian* / psychology
  • Asian* / statistics & numerical data
  • Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / methods
  • Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / statistics & numerical data
  • Culturally Competent Care / methods*
  • Delivery of Health Care / methods*
  • Emigrants and Immigrants / psychology
  • Emigrants and Immigrants / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Hypertension* / diagnosis
  • Hypertension* / ethnology
  • Hypertension* / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Medically Underserved Area
  • Middle Aged
  • New York City / epidemiology
  • Preventive Health Services* / methods
  • Preventive Health Services* / organization & administration
  • Program Evaluation
  • Self Efficacy