title: Prevalence rates of hypertension self-care activities among African Americans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A comprehensive understanding of the self-care activities that contribute to blood pressure control may explain health disparities experienced by African Americans with hypertension. This study assessed the prevalence of self-care activities among African Americans with high blood pressure and examined differences between adherers and nonadherers to self-care activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews were conducted with 186 African Americans. Self-care activities were measured using the H-SCALE (Hypertension Self-Care Activity Level Effects), which was developed to assess the behavioral activities recommended for optimal management of high blood pressure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than half of participants reported adhering to medication recommendations and prescribed physical activity levels (58.6% and 52.2%, respectively). Following practices related to weight management was less frequent, (30.1%) and adherence to low-salt diet recommendations was also low (22.0%). Three-fourths were nonsmokers and 65% abstained from alcohol. Across the self-care activities, adherers were more likely to be older and female. Nonadherers were more likely to be uninsured.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many African Americans still face challenges related to hypertension self-care, particularly with weight management and salt reduction. The H-SCALE was a valid and reliable measure of hypertension self-care activities. In addition to monitoring blood pressure, health care providers should assess patients' hypertension self-care activities using the H-SCALE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA. jwarren1@uncc.edu
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Warren-Findlow
authors.forename: Rachel B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Seymour
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015995:Prevalence; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents