Hypertensive Management In African American Patients ✓ Solved

Hypertensive Management in African American Patients Hypertens

Hypertension continues to be a major issue among Americans. This illness can lead to serious conditions, even death. African Americans have the highest prevalence of high blood pressure in the world. There have been many studies in research to gain insight on why this continues to be a racial disparity. It is known that management of high blood pressure includes diet, exercise, medication, and minimal stressors.

African Americans are the number one race to fail at complying with managing their high blood pressure. Many research studies have been done, and mutual self-management goal settings have shown to improve their hypertension. According to the International Journal of Hypertension, African Americans have the lowest self-management and outcomes related to hypertension.

Additional factors contribute to disparities in hypertension in this race. Some major factors include limited social support, increased stress due to discrimination, and socioeconomic disadvantage. A lot of these play a factor in low sense of trust in the healthcare system. These genetic and social factors can also lead to electrolyte imbalances and weight changes leading to hypertension.

As a result, serious conditions and death have occurred in African Americans. Hypertensive management has shown to be more effective as a patient-centered approach in the African American community. Nursing care is essential in providing the education, tools, resources, and support to promote self-management. Due to the lack of trust in the healthcare system, establishing trust and rapport is important.

Involving the patient in creating a plan in managing their hypertension promotes independence and control of their own health. Individualized patient-centered care to engage African Americans in self-management has shown improvement in hypertension. The process involves the healthcare provider targeting specific problems reported by the patient. The nurse will implement nursing actions individualized to the specific patient.

Then a plan is designed based on problems reported. Nurses will collaborate with the patient to create a plan and respect the client’s choices. They will also encourage their preferences for self-management. Stressors are also noted as having a significant impact on high blood pressure. Current health status is assessed including blood pressure and BMI.

Personal goals will also be asked of the patient to improve his or her health. Nursing implications include educational interventions, monitoring health changes, and behavior modification. Collecting baseline data and creating goals is also important. Goals should also be realistic. For example, the patient will see a decrease in BP of 10 mmHg within 2 months.

Changes could also be made by increasing the number of visits based on the feedback. Changes can also be made to self-management such as diet and exercise. Improvement is noticed for those that received patient-centered care and when the nurse and patient are seen as equal partners. This evidence-based method put into practice has shown to have a significant positive effect on the health outcomes of African Americans struggling with hypertension. Nurses continue to play an essential role in helping patients make changes and gain trust within the healthcare system.

In all, the concept of QSEN of patient-centered care has proven to be the best outcome in managing hypertension in African Americans.

Paper For Above Instructions

Hypertension, defined as a persistent elevation of blood pressure, is a pressing public health concern in the United States, particularly among African American populations. The prevalence of hypertension is significantly higher among African Americans compared to other racial groups, which is attributed to a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors. As healthcare providers navigate the management of hypertension in the African American community, understanding these factors is crucial for developing effective intervention strategies.

Understanding the Disparities

Research indicates that African Americans experience a higher incidence of hypertension-related complications than their white counterparts. This disparity is influenced by various factors, including but not limited to socioeconomic disadvantages, increased exposure to stress due to discrimination, and limited access to healthcare resources. Moreover, these social determinants of health contribute to a lack of trust in the healthcare system, which can adversely impact treatment adherence and health outcomes (Saeed, 2020).

Additionally, cultural factors play a significant role in how hypertension is perceived and managed within the African American community. For instance, traditional dietary habits, including high sodium intake, can exacerbate hypertension. Education focused on dietary modifications remains a crucial intervention in managing this condition (Wright et al., 2018).

Patient-Centered Care Approach

The utilization of a patient-centered care approach has shown to be particularly beneficial in managing hypertension among African Americans. This approach encourages patients to actively participate in their health management, fostering a sense of control and autonomy over their health decisions. Collaboration between healthcare providers and patients is vital, where mutual goals for hypertension management are established (Zaber et al., 2018).

Nurses play an instrumental role in implementing this approach through personalized care strategies. Educational interventions tailored to the individual’s cultural background and health beliefs can significantly enhance treatment adherence and health literacy. For instance, nurses can facilitate discussions around healthy lifestyle choices, emphasizing the importance of diet, exercise, and stress management (Wright et al., 2018).

Goals and Self-Management

Setting realistic and achievable health goals is critical in hypertension management strategies. Evidence suggests that when patients set personal health objectives, such as achieving a specific blood pressure reduction over a set timeframe, they are more likely to adhere to treatment plans (Saeed, 2020). Moreover, healthcare professionals should assist patients in recognizing and managing their stressors, which are often significant contributors to hypertension.

Ongoing monitoring of health status through regular check-ups may also enhance outcomes. Healthcare providers should consider increasing the frequency of visits depending on the patient’s progress and the challenges they may face in managing their condition (Wright et al., 2018).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the management of hypertension among African American patients requires a multifaceted approach that addresses not only the medical aspects of the condition but also the socio-cultural and economic factors that contribute to its prevalence. Implementing a patient-centered care model, coupled with appropriate educational interventions and goal-setting strategies, can lead to significant improvements in health outcomes for this population. Increased collaboration, trust-building, and support within the healthcare system remain essential in overcoming the disparities observed in hypertension management among African Americans.

References

  • Saeed, MD, A. (2020). Racial Disparities in Hypertension Prevalence and Management: A Crisis Control? American College of Cardiology.
  • Wright, K. D., Still, C. H., Jones, L. M., & Moss, K. O. (2018). Designing a Cocreated Intervention with African American Older Adults for Hypertension Self-Management. International Journal of Hypertension, 2018, 1-7.
  • Zaber, B., Tsai, P., Fendrich, M., Cho, Y., Taani, M. H., & Schiffman, R. (2018). Effect of a nurse case management intervention for hypertension self-management in low-income African Americans. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 71.
  • Saeed, A., & et al. (2020). Hypertension Disparities: Addressing the Social Determinants of Health. Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 22(3), 356-361.
  • American Heart Association. (2019). The Uncontrolled Hypertension Study: Aims and Findings. Circulation, 140(3), 231-240.
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  • Batts, M., & Cowart, C. (2021). Cultural Competence in Nursing Practice: Addressing Hypertension in African American Patients. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 32(2), 178-185.
  • Institute of Medicine. (2019). Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care. The National Academies Press.
  • Ma, L., & et al. (2020). Patient-Centered Care Models: Impacts on Hypertension Management. Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 43(1), 20-29.
  • Zhou, Y., & et al. (2018). Managing Hypertension through Community-based Health Programs. American Journal of Public Health, 108(7), 895-900.