title: Lifestyles of Jamaican men with hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Determine the extent to which the lifestyles of Jamaican men with hypertension met the guidelines of the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7).
  
  
  METHODS
  Following informed consent, a convenience sample of Jamaican men with hypertension (n = 48), of African ethnicity, attending a Type 5 Health Center was interviewed over a four week period, using a 31-item interview schedule.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of respondents was 65.2 (± 12.1) years (range = 35-89 years) with 33% having blood pressure (BP) controlled to 130/80 mmHg. Those meeting the guidelines were normal weight 23 (47.9%), DASH (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) diet zero, medication 7 (14.6%), exercise 14 (29.2%), alcohol restriction 38 (79.2%), and smoking cessation 40 (83.3%). Medication adherence was associated with BP control (r = -0.30, p < .04). More than half of the respondents believed that hypertension could be cured and that they could stop all treatment if their BP was normal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only a third of the sample had BP controlled to ≤130/80 mmHg. Adherence to the JNC 7 lifestyle guidelines was inadequate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A nurse led intervention, focusing on perceptions and lifestyle practices, is indicated.
authors.affiliation: North East Region Health Authority, Port Antonio, Jamaica.
authors.forename: Faithlee Elizabeth
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.affiliation: The University of the West Indies School of Nursing, Kingston, Jamaica duff@flowja.com.
authors.forename: Edith Marilyn
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Duff
authors.affiliation: The University of the West Indies School of Nursing, Kingston, Jamaica.
authors.forename: Khadene
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Campbell-Taffe
authors.affiliation: The University of the West Indies School of Nursing, Kingston, Jamaica.
authors.forename: Jascinth L M
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lindo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D007563:Jamaica; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: Jamaican men with hypertension; blood pressure; body mass index; lifestyles; medication adherence