Barbershops as Hypertension Detection, Referral, and Follow-Up Centers for Black Men

Abstract

Abstract-Barbershops constitute potential sites for community health promotion programs targeting hypertension (HTN) in black men, but such programs have not been evaluated previously. Here we conducted 2 nonrandomized feasibility studies to determine whether an enhanced intervention program of continuous blood pressure (BP) monitoring and peer-based health messaging in a barbershop lowers BP more than standard screening and health education (study 1) and can be implemented by barbers rather than research personnel (study 2). In study 1, we measured changes in HTN treatment and BP in regular barbershop customers with poorly controlled HTN assigned for 8 months to either an enhanced intervention group (nϭ36) or a contemporaneous comparison group (nϭ27). Groups were similar at baseline. BP fell by 16Ϯ3/9Ϯ2 mm Hg in the enhanced intervention group but was unchanged in the comparison group (PϽ0.0001, adjusted for age and body mass index). HTN treatment and control increased from 47% to 92% (PϽ0.001) and 19% to 58% (PϽ0.001), respectively, in the enhanced intervention group, whereas both remained unchanged in the comparison group. In study 2, barbers were trained to administer the enhanced intervention continuously for 14 months to the entire adult black male clientele (nϭ321) in 1 shop. Six barbers recorded 8953 BP checks during 11 066 haircuts, thus demonstrating a high degree of intervention fidelity. Furthermore, among 107 regular customers with HTN, treatment and control increased progressively with increasing intervention exposure (PϽ0.01). Taken together, these data suggest that black-owned barbershops can be transformed into effective HTN detection, referral, and follow-up centers. Further research is warranted. Key Words: population science Ⅲ special populations Ⅲ blood pressure measurement/monitoring Ⅲ blacks Ⅲ hypertension H ypertension (HTN) is more prevalent, more severe, and causes disproportionate numbers of premature disabilities and deaths from heart attack, stroke, and end-stage renal disease in blacks than in all other racial/ethnic groups in the United States. [1][2][3] HTN is present in 40% of blacks, with blood pressure (BP) being controlled with medication to a recommended value of Ͻ140/90 mm Hg in less than one-third of these affected high-risk individuals. 2,4 In the other two-thirds, HTN either is untreated or undertreated.Among black women, HTN treatment rates are high, and most of the uncontrolled HTN occurs under the watchful eye of the healthcare system. 2,5 Black men have less frequent contact with the healthcare system and considerably lower rates of HTN detection and treatment. 2,[5][6][7][8] The black church has been a conventional site for medical outreach and HTN screening programs. 9,10 However, regular church attendance is much less common among black men than women. 6,11 To reach a larger fraction of the at-risk male population, we approached the black-owned barbershop, a cultural institution that regularly attracts large numbers of black men and provides an open forum for dis...

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