Date of Conferral

2015

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Phyllis Morgan

Abstract

Hypertension is a major chronic health problem that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. African Americans disproportionately suffer from the morbidity and mortality of hypertension-related illnesses. The purpose of this comparative project was to determine the impact of peer support educational workshops as an avenue for lifestyle modification, using changes in blood pressure (BP) before and after participation. The target population consisted of 64 African Americans with hypertension in Brooklyn NY, aged 20 to 65 years old. BP measurements were taken within 1 month before and after participating in a weekly peer support educational workshop facilitated by designated healthcare providers. The health belief model, using the tenets of lifestyle modification, societal support and health education, was used to guide the study. Demographic data were collated and categorized, considering numeric values used to represent age, income level, and education. Normality testing of the study variables was performed to ensure that the data followed a normal distribution. The study variables included the pre- and post-test systolic and diastolic BP. A t test was used in order to compare the 2 groups, revealing a statistically lower significant score from African Americans who participated than those who did not. African Americans who adhered to peer support educational regimens in the workshops revealed a statistically significant lower diastolic BP than those who did not participate. This research contributes to social change by providing evidence-based recommendations that government and health care professionals may use to create strategic plans to promote the well-being of individuals and communities.

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