Cultural Dance Program Improves Hypertension Management for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders: a Pilot Randomized Trial.
Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) bear an unequal burden of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Hula, the traditional dance of Hawaii, has shown to be a culturally meaningful form of moderate-vigorous physical activity for NHPI. A pilot study was done in Honolulu, Hawaii, to test a 12-week hula-based intervention, coupled with self-care education, on blood pressure management in NHPI with hypertension in 2013.



NHPI with a systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg were randomized to the intervention (n = 27) or a wait-list control (n = 28). Blood pressure, physical functioning, and eight aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQL) were assessed.



The intervention resulted in a reduction in SBP compared to control (-18.3 vs. -7.6 mmHg, respectively, p ≤ 0.05) from baseline to 3-month post-intervention. Improvements in HRQL measures of bodily pain and social functioning were significantly associated with SBP improvements in both groups.



Using hula as the physical activity component of a hypertension intervention can serve as a culturally congruent strategy to blood pressure management in NHPI with hypertension.



clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01995812.
Department of Native Hawaiian Health, University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, 677 Ala Moana Blvd, Ste 1016B, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA. kaholoku@hawaii.edu.
Joseph Keawe'aimoku
JK
Kaholokula
Department of Native Hawaiian Health, University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, 677 Ala Moana Blvd, Ste 1016B, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA.|Halau Mohala 'Ilima, 1110 A'alapapa Drive, Kailua, HI, 96734, USA.
Mele
M
Look
Department of Native Hawaiian Health, University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, 677 Ala Moana Blvd, Ste 1016B, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA.
Tricia
T
Mabellos
Department of Native Hawaiian Health, University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, 677 Ala Moana Blvd, Ste 1016B, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA.
Guangxiang
G
Zhang
Halau Mohala 'Ilima, 1110 A'alapapa Drive, Kailua, HI, 96734, USA.
Mapuana
M
de Silva
Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Center, 2239 N. School St., Honolulu, HI, 96819, USA.
Sheryl
S
Yoshimura
Kula No Na Po'e Hawai'i, 2150 Tantalus Drive, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA.
Cappy
C
Solatorio
Cancer Prevention and Control Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, 701 Ilalo Street, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA.
Thomas
T
Wills
The Queen's Medical Center, 1301 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA.
Todd B
TB
Seto
Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, 1100 Olive Way, Ste 1200, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA.
Ka'imi A
KA
Sinclair
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003615:Dancing; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation
Blood pressure; Community-based participatory research; Hula; Hypertension; Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders