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This 6-month pilot randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of a Mobile Health (mHealth) intervention for hypertension self-monitoring and management in an underserved urban community. The four health outcomes measured included changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), BP monitoring adherence, perceived medication adherence self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to the mHealth group or a standard follow-up group; 25 participants completed the study. The mHealth group had statistically significant improvement in systolic BP decrease ( p = .01). The mHealth group had better adherence to BP monitoring and improved perceived medication adherence self-efficacy at 6 months, compared with the standard follow-up group. The results suggest that an mHealth intervention has the potential to facilitate hypertension management in underserved urban communities.

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This article presents the work of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Advisory Committee in developing an integrated curriculum for cultural competence in baccalaureate nursing education. Five competencies for Cultural Competency in Baccalaureate Nursing Education were developed with supporting rationale. Suggestions for developing and implementing curricula for cultural competency, teaching content, specific integrative learning strategies, methods for evaluating nursing students' cultural competence and recommendations for effective implementation of the integrated curriculum are presented.

The study explores cultural influences on depression and care outcomes among Asian Indians with depression. Data were collected from interviews of 23 multidisciplinary mental health professionals and retrospective review of 20 medical records of patients. Findings revealed a major influence of social and cultural context in expression of symptoms, illness attribution, help-seeking behaviors, and communication patterns. Religious beliefs and social stigma attached to mental illness contributed to prolonged denial of condition, difficulty in sharing emotional problems with professional caregivers, and delayed professional intervention. The traditional family hierarchy rooted in age and gender inequality interfered with help-seeking behaviors and adherence to prescribed regimen as well as heightened some family conflicts and hindered family adaptation after migration to the United States.