title: Educational attainment does not modify the effect of educational interventions on blood pressure control: a secondary analysis of data from a randomised trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether the effects of community-based educational interventions to improve blood pressure, weight and health behaviours benefit participants with lower educational levels more than those with higher educational levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary data analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two 12-month community-based educational interventions, one led by trained peers and one delivered by health professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 403 hypertensive individuals, grouped by education (high school or less; 1-3 years college; 4 + years college).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood pressure, weight, physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that changes in blood pressure, weight and physical activity were similar across education levels; college graduates consumed more daily servings of fruits and vegetables at baseline (3.7 versus 3.6 for those with 12-15 years and 3.1 for those with < 12 years, p = 0.0112), and increased intake more after the intervention (+0.4 versus -0.1 and -0.1, p = 0.0142). The two methods of delivery - peer-led versus professional - had similar effects on all measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that educational interventions, whether delivered by peers or professionals, may improve chronic disease self-management among participants but do not confer greater benefits on participants with lower educational levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics, Institute for Health and Society, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eastwood
authors.affiliation: Center for Patient Care Outcomes Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Primary Care Research Division, Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53295, USA.
authors.forename: Kristyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ertl
authors.affiliation: Center for Patient Care Outcomes Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Primary Care Research Division, Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53295, USA.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Whittle
keywords: Hypertension; health education; health service research; social conditions and disease