141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

285970
Reducing hypertension among Filipino Americans through Project Aspire community health worker intervention

Monday, November 4, 2013 : 9:10 AM - 9:30 AM

Rhodora Ursua, MPH , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, Institute of Community Health and Research, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
David E. Aguilar, MA , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, Institute of Community Health and Research, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Laura Wyatt, MPH , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, Institute of Community Health and Research, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Leonida Gamboa, BS , Kalusugan Coalition, Inc., Woodside, NY
Pacita Valdellon, Ed D , Kalusugan Coalition, Inc., Woodside, NY
Esperanza Perrella, MS , Kalusugan Coalition, Inc., Woodside, NY
Zebede Dimaporo, MA , Kalusugan Coalition, Inc., Woodside, NY
Potri Ranka Manis Queano Nur, RN, MA , Kalusugan Coalition, Inc., Woodside, NY
Darius Tandon, PhD , Department of Pediatrics & Department of Population, Family, & Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Mariano Rey, MD , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, Institute of Community Health and Research, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Chau Trinh-Shevrin, DrPH , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, Institute of Community Health and Research, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Background/Significance: Filipino Americans (FAs) have one of the highest rates of hypertension in the United States, yet few interventions address this population. Objective/Purpose: To highlight findings from a community-based 8-month randomized controlled community health worker (CHW) intervention (Project AsPIRE - Asian American Partnerships in Research and Empowerment) aimed at improving hypertension control among FAs in New York City. Methods: Measures, including clinical outcomes and behaviors related to hypertension management, were collected at baseline, 4-months, and 8-months. Preliminary analyses were performed on 62 treatment participants and 78 control participants who had completed 8-month surveys. The intervention is currently ongoing and will be complete in March of 2013. A total of 237 individuals have been randomized into the study. Results: Compared to baseline, at 8-months the treatment group had a mean change in systolic blood pressure of -27.0mmHg and diastolic blood pressure of -10.9mmHg (p<0.001) while the control group had a mean change in systolic blood pressure of -9.2mmHg (p<0.001) and diastolic blood pressure of -3.5mmHg (p<0.01); blood pressure reduction was significantly greater for the treatment group (p<0.001). The treatment group was also more likely to exhibit controlled blood pressure at 8 months (90.5% vs. 56.4%, p<0.001). Adapted Hill-bone compliance scales for appointment keeping and medication adherence were assessed. The treatment group displayed greater medication adherence at 8-months (p<0.01), while the control group did not display a significant change. Both groups demonstrated improved appointment keeping at 8-months; change was more significant in the treatment group (p<0.01 vs. p<0.05). Further findings to be presented include analyses adjusting for repeated measures using linear mixed models. Discussion/Conclusions: Positive changes in hypertension management and associated behaviors were seen in this preliminary analysis of Project AsPIRE. CHWs are an integral part of the health care team, and this model can be sustained within a community-based setting.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Advocacy for health and health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the changes in blood pressure among treatment and control groups participating in Project AsPIRE community health worker intervention Evaluate the role of community health workers in hypertension management

Keywords: Interventions, Community-Based Public Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Director of Project AsPIRE, a research project that aims to improve health access and status for CVD among Filipino Americans, and I have received an MPH in Population and Family Health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.