Improving Hypertension Self Management in African American Men

Hypertension is a cardiopulmonary condition linked to genetic, environmental, and social factors. Left untreated, it can lead to fatal conditions such as heart disease. In the United States, African Americans experience disproportionately high rates of hypertension, earlier onset of symptoms, greater severity, and higher related mortality rates. African Americans also statistically have more difficulty self-managing their hypertension than other demographics. The aim of this project was (a) to identify, define, and measure perceived barriers to self-management of hypertension among African American men and (b) to target these barriers and increase patient engagement through personalized intervention plans. The researcher recruited 24 African American male participants over the age of 18 seeking treatment for hypertension in clinical settings within New York City. Participants received 12-week personalized health interventions based on the patient health engagement model and completed the 22-item Chronic Disease Self Efficacy Scales, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Patient Health Engagement Scale before and after the intervention. The research project was quasi-experimental. The researcher performed a correlative analysis on various social factors and their impact on patients’ ability to manage self-care. The data demonstrated that using the self-care model massively reduced participants’ systolic pressure. Health care providers should consider making individualized hypertension management programs available to Black communities throughout the United States. Keywords: African American men, Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scales, self management, systolic blood pressur