The impact of a planned health education approach on the control of hypertension in a high risk population.
This paper reports on the effectiveness of a planned health education programme on enhancing the control of hypertension in a community demonstrating the highest rates of high blood pressure, cerebrovascular disease, and diseases of the heart in the State of Maryland. Within the community intervention programme, a specific focus was directed at younger black males (ages 18-49) who demonstrated the lowest rates of awareness, treatment, and control for their hypertension, as compared to all other age/race/sex groups. The programme consisted of targeted screenings, outreach, and follow-up; influencing specific health beliefs regarding diagnosis and treatment; and family and community support strategies. Formally trained community health workers provided educational counselling, monitoring, outreach and follow-up services in coordination with a community-wide health provider task force. Results to date indicate that this planned health education approach has been successful in significantly improving the control of hypertension in a high-risk population.
Levine
D M
DM
Division of Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
Bone
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors