Interactive Multirisk-Factor Intervention for Hypertension (HTN) Blacks

Interactive Multirisk-Factor Intervention for HTN Blacks

The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of Telephone-Linked_Care for Hypertension Regimen Adherence in an African American population (TLC-HTN-AA). TLC-HTN-AA is a computer-based telecommunication system that will monitor, educate and counsel African American adults with hypertension on adherence to medication, diet, and exercise. The primary hypotheses are:

1. TLC-HTN-AA use will improve medication regiment adherence
2. TLC-HTN-AA will improve adherence to 3 healthy diet recommendations
3. TLC-HTN-AA will improve levels of regular exercise
4. Patients receiving TLC-HTN-AA will be more likely to become adherent to all 3 target regiments than patients in the control group

Inclusion Criteria:

• a patient with a primary care provider at one of Boston Medical Center's Adult Primary Care Medical Practices or one of three HealthNet health centers participating in the study
• have a physician diagnosis of hypertension
• be African American by self-report
• be 35 years of age or older
• be prescribed at least one medication for hypertension
• have poorly controlled blood pressure
• be non-adherent to at least one hypertensive medication
• understand spoken English
• have a home telephone

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients for whom a medication, diet or exercise regiment adherence improvement or maintenance program would be inappropriate
• patients with a terminal illness
• patients with severe medical or psychiatric illness
• patients with cognitive difficulty