Community Health Workers Using Patient Stories to Support Hypertension Management

Community Health Workers Using Patient Stories to Support Hypertension

Community Health Workers (CHWs) using patient stories to support hypertension management is a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the implementation of a CHW-delivered culturally appropriate storytelling intervention for english and spanish-speaking patients diagnosed with hypertension who receive care at community health center settings.

Community Health Workers (CHWs) using patient stories to support hypertension (HTN) management is a CHW-delivered culturally appropriate storytelling intervention for patients diagnosed with HTN. We will develop and test interactive videos presenting stories of patients who have successfully made changes enhancing blood pressure control; and integrate this new tool with a CHW approach to management of hypertension. This two site, two-armed randomized controlled trial aims to recruit 252 english and spanish speaking patients with uncontrolled HTN. All participants are randomized to receive five visits (two in-person and 3 telephone calls) with CHWs either immediately (intervention condition (I)) or 6 months after enrollment (delayed intervention (DI)). Intervention participants receive the intervention immediately and DI participants receive print materials at enrollment and are telephoned 4-6 months after enrollment to schedule an in-person visit at the health enter to begin receiving the intervention protocol.

Inclusion Criteria:

• English and Spanish speaking patients
• Male or female between the ages of 30 and 80
• Diagnosis of HTN and uncontrolled HTN, defined as (a) having an average systolic BP greater than or equal to 140 and /or diastolic BP greater than or equal to 90 over the past 12 months or (b) most recent BP reading within the previous 6 months as systolic BP greater than or equal to 140 and /or diastolic BP greater than or equal to 90.
• Willingness to be randomized to either intervention or delayed intervention

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women
• Patients planning to leave the Community Health Center in the next year
• Adults unable to consent