Unsung heroes in health education and promotion: How Community Health Workers contribute to hypertension management

Authors: Kim Bush, Carlea Patrick, Kimberly Elliott, Michael Morris, Yordanos Tiruneh, Paul McGaha

The goal of this paper was to gain a better understanding of the CHW-led Self-Management Blood Pressure (SMBP) program offered through the University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center. The SMBP program aims to improve the management of hypertension through awareness, education, navigation, advocacy, and resource assistance via structured workshops and regular follow-up. SMBP sessions were conducted from August 2019 to June 2022 to capture different dimensions of program performance, including changes in participant knowledge and behaviors, effects on systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and the participants’ self-reported experiences of completing the SMBP program. Subsequent results indicated that this CHW-led intervention played a significant role in improving hypertension through offering valuable education on lifestyle changes that impact overall health and quality of life. In addition, participants gained knowledge, encouraging them to create lifelong, healthy habits and coping skills in areas of stress management, selfcare, and accountability. These findings suggest that CHW-led interventions similar to SMBP may be an effective route to improving the management of hypertension while equipping high risk individuals with knowledge to make key lifestyle changes.