High blood pressure knowledge in an urban African-American community.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the level and determinants of knowledge of the risks for hypertension and the potential for its prevention in an urban African-American community.


METHODS
In a survey of 397 African-American adults (18-73 years of age) at an urban community fair, we measured high blood pressure knowledge using a 12-item questionnaire designed at NIH for the assessment of high blood pressure knowledge among non-medical persons.


RESULTS
The mean high blood pressure knowledge score for the overall sample was 83.1%. There were subgroup differences in the scores with significant associations between high blood pressure knowledge score and level of education (P = .002) and a personal history of hypertension (P = .009).


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that the participants exhibited a high, but variable, level of high blood pressure knowledge with a higher level of education and/or a personal history of hypertension having a significant association with greater blood pressure knowledge. The effects of the magnitude and mode of acquisition of high blood pressure knowledge on the control of high blood pressure and its related outcomes need to be examined in further studies.
Martins
D
D
Department of Medicine, King-Drew Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90059, USA.
Gor
D
D
Teklehaimanot
S
S
Norris
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014505:Urban Population