Peer (dyadic) support: a hypertension feasibility study for older African American women

African American women have a higher prevalence of hypertension than women of other ethnicities. The increasing prevalence of hypertension among this population is alarming.

This was an 8-week feasibility study. The study population consisted of African American women aged 60 years and older with a self-reported diagnosis of hypertension. Participants identified a peer to participate with or were paired with another participant in the study. Educational sessions on communication, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, and home blood pressure monitoring were provided for participants. Participants were required to measure their blood pressure twice daily using an Omron monitor and communicate with their peers at least twice weekly. Dietary intake was measured pre- and post-intervention using the DASH Quality (DASH-Q) survey, social support was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Support Survey, and communication was tracked using communication logs. Feasibility was assessed by enrollment and retention rates.

Pre-intervention, participants had an average DASH-Q score of 33.76 (SD = 13.37). Participants' post-intervention DASH-Q scores increased by 5 points compared to their pre-intervention scores; however, this difference was not significant (t = -1.608, p = 0.059). Additionally, participants who completed the intervention had a 4-point decrease in their systolic blood pressure at week 6. A dependent sample t-test revealed the difference was significant (t = 2.305, p = 0.014). A total of 40 participants were enrolled in the study, and the retention rate was 85%.

Although not statistically significant, improvements in systolic blood pressure and DASH diet adherence were observed. Therefore, the results indicate that the peer (dyadic) support intervention was feasible.