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Heart 2 Heart Pilot Study of a Church-Based Community Health Worker Intervention for African Americans with Hypertension

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Authors: Elizabeth B Lynch, Christy Tangney, Todd Ruppar, Laura Zimmermann, Joselyn Williams, LaDawne Jenkins, Steve Epting, Elizabeth Avery, Tamara Olinger, Teresa Berumen, Maggie Skoller, Rebecca Wornhoff

This pilot study explored a church-based community health worker (CHW) intervention to reduce blood pressure among African Americans (AAs) in Chicago. CHWs from local churches supported participants with diet and medication adherence over six months. Results showed a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure, especially for those with higher baseline levels. Medication adherence improved, but adherence to the DASH diet decreased slightly. Participants rated the intervention positively for acceptability and appropriateness, preferring the church-based setting. The study highlights the potential effectiveness of church-based CHW interventions in reducing blood pressure among AAs, despite challenges in intervention fidelity.

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Resource Topic: Hypertension

Resource Type: Evaluation

Year: 2023

Region:

Country: United States of America

Publisher May Restrict Access: No

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