Funding ended before the second phase of the study could be started. Additionally, the second phase of the study will be a part of the PIs K01 study.

Narrative communication (e.g., storytelling) is an approach that has contributed to behavioral change for individuals with conditions such as diabetes, breast cancer, and hypertension. The objective of this study is to conduct a feasibility and pilot study storytelling intervention for African Americans with hypertension. In the feasibility phase 30 African Americans with hypertension will be recruited to view nine patient stories and provide feedback on the effectiveness, usefulness, and satisfaction with the stories. Nine African Americans adults with hypertension were filmed, sharing experiences living with and managing hypertension; including, diet and exercise tips, suggestions for locating healthy foods, and motivational stories about successfully controlling hypertension. During the feasibility phase feedback will also be elicited from the participants about the best approaches for delivering a storytelling intervention, and obtain feedback on the resources and health information that would be helpful to an individual participating in a storytelling intervention. In the pilot study phase, 30 African Americans adults with hypertension will be recruited to participate in a 6-week trial, each week the participants will watch one story and review one module of health information accessible through the study specific website developed for the High Blood Pressure Stories (HBPStories) study. Data will be collected at baseline and 6-weeks including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, medication adherence, health behaviors such as diet and physical activity, and psychosocial measures including positive affect and self-efficacy in the management of hypertension.

Inclusion Criteria:

The study inclusion criteria are as follows:

• self-reported hypertension
• race/ethnicity: Black or African American
• prescribed antihypertensive medication
• age ≥ 18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

The exclusion criteria are:

• cognitive limitations that limit the ability to provide informed consent
• unable to speak or read English

De-identified participant data will be available one year after the last participant is recruited. Study protocol, informed consent, and study surveys will be available immediately after recruitment is completed.

The de-identified study data will become available one year after the last participant is recruited, and will be available for three years. Supporting information will be available as soon as recruitment is completed.

Please email the PI for access to study data and supporting information.

Due to the delay in recruiting for the feasibility phase of the study, we were unable to conduct the 6-week trial. The PI was funded for a K01 and has incorporated the 6-week trial into the design of the K01 research.

There were two phases of the study, the feasibility phase and the pilot study. During the feasibility phase participants viewed the website and stories, and completed surveys during one visit. Adverse events were collected within 24 hours of participating in the feasibility phase. The second phase, the pilot study was not initiated due to funding ending; therefore, no adverse events were collected.

The definition of adverse events or serious adverse events does not differ from the clinicaltrials.gov definition.

Recruitment for the feasibility study was delayed and we were able to recruit participants for the first phase of the study. The second phase of the study was not completed, the 6-week trial. However, the study was recently funded and the 6 week trial will be conducted as a part of a pilot study.