Improving Health through Knowledge and Intervention: Promoting Hypertension Management with Early Screening, Self-Care, and Hypertension Literacy in an Occupational Setting

Introduction/Purpose: Hypertension (HTN) is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular events. This project aims to increase blood pressure (BP) management, hypertension health literacy, and self-care awareness by providing early awareness in an occupational setting.

Methods: 33 consented participants’ BP was measured and were given the Hypertension Knowledge Literacy survey (HK-LS), Brief Illness Perception questionnaire, and Hypertension self-care activity level effect (H-SCALE) questionnaire. They were seen in an occupational clinic from October 31, 2023-December 31, 2023. Each participant’s BP and survey/questionnaires were scored and reviewed. Participants with elevated systolic >130 mm Hg and/or diastolic >85 mm Hg BP received education from the American Heart Association (AHA) and required follow-up. During follow-up, each questionnaire and survey was redistributed, scored, and reviewed with repeated BP measurements, which was completed within two weeks after initial visit.

Results: Out of 33 participants, sixteen required follow-ups. Of those requiring follow up eleven were African American (AA). Concerning effect size, systolic and diastolic BP showed a positive significance related to Brief Illness scores (systolic 41 (.023)b. and diastolic 37 (.039)b). In returning follow-up patients (n=11), post-education HK-LS scores (M = 20.82, SD = 1.25) were significantly higher than pre-education (M = 19.64, SD = 1.43), t(10) = 3.99, p = .003, d = 1.20, and this effect was very large. Pre-education systolic BP (M = 150.73, SD = 16.38) had significantly lower post education systolic BP (M = 145.09, SD = 22.10), t(10) = -2.47, p = .033, d = -.74, and a large effect. There was no significant significance in BP in relation to the H-SCALE survey.

Discussion: Based on data analysis, the presence of an OH clinic supported preventive health promotion and early BP management. In the clinic, there was a significant decrease in BP and increase in hypertension (HTN) literacy in those that required follow-up post-education. Early screening for hypertension, assessing hypertension literacy, and providing interventions in Occupational Health (OH) helps to bridge gaps in care.