Produce Prescription for Healthy Blood Pressure

The Produce Prescription for Healthy Blood Pressure Program to Manage Hypertension Among West Dallas, TX Residents

The investigators want to understand the effects of the Produce Prescription for Healthy Blood Pressure program on blood pressure control and people's health. The overall project goal is to improve blood pressure levels of West Dallas residents with high blood pressure through participation in this produce prescription program.

The Produce Prescription for Healthy Blood Pressure (PRx-BP) program pairs produce prescriptions with education on healthy eating and blood pressure management. The PRx-BP program includes weekly "prescribed" produce boxes; Do Well Be Well with Hypertension (a curriculum focused on adopting a healthy lifestyle and managing hypertension); a blood pressure monitoring kit; and the CareSignal program, in which participants monitor their blood pressure using text messages. The goal of this project is to understand whether PRx-BP can improve blood pressure levels among adults with hypertension living in West Dallas, TX, a largely underserved community. To achieve this goal, the investigators will complete the following objectives: 1) use feedback from focus groups with West Dallas residents who have hypertension to tailor the PRx-BP program; 2) test how effective PRx-BP is on lowering blood pressure, compared to a group who will not receive PRx-BP through a pilot randomized wait-list controlled trial; 3) understand how to improve ways the program is delivered through a process evaluation; and 4) determine how much the program costs relative to its ability to lower blood pressure through a cost-effectiveness analysis. By providing fresh produce and education, resources, and support for managing blood pressure, the investigators anticipate that blood pressure levels and the frequency and cost of using healthcare will decrease.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. >18 years old
2. blood pressure reading of >130/80 mmHg
3. member of a low-income household
4. benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (e.g., is eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or medical assistance under a Texas State plan or a waiver of such a plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act and enrolled under such plan or waiver.

Exclusion Criteria:

None