Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs related to hypertension and hyperlipidemia self-management among African-American men living in the Southeastern United States

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Patient Educ Couns
• Personal Author:
  Long, Everett ; Ponder, Monica ; Bernard, Stephanie
• Description:
  Objective
  
  Perceptions of illness affect cardiovascular disease (CVD) self-management. This study explores knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding hypertension and hyperlipidemia management among 34 African-American men with hypertension and/or hyperlipidemia, age 40–65, living in the Southeastern United States.
  
  Methods
  
  In-person focus groups were conducted using semi-structured interview questions informed by the Health Belief Model (HBM).
  
  Results
  
  Participants had a high level of knowledge about hypertension self-management, but less about cholesterol self-management. Perceived severity of both conditions was acknowledged, though participants perceived hypertension as more severe. Barriers to self-management included medication side effects and unhealthy dietary patterns. Facilitators included social support, positive healthcare experiences, and the value placed on family. Cultural implications highlighted the importance of food in daily life and social settings. Participants expressed how notions of masculinity affected self-management—noting the impact of feelings of vulnerability and perceived lack of control stemming from diagnosis and treatment expectations.
  
  Conclusions
  
  The findings highlight gaps in knowledge of hyperlipidemia versus hypertension, and the impact of cultural context and perceptions on engagement in self-management behaviors.
  
  Practice implications
  
  Public health practitioners and healthcare providers serving African-American men should address cultural factors and notions of masculinity which can hinder effective disease management among this population.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adult Aged Black Or African American Disease Management Focus Groups Health Behavior Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Humans Hyperlipidemias Hypertension Interviews As Topic Male Middle Aged Qualitative Research Self Care Social Support Surveys And Questionnaires

  More +
• Source:
  Patient Educ Couns. 100(5):1000-1006.
• Pubmed ID:
  28012680
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC5400720
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; South Carolina ; Southeastern United States
• Volume:
  100
• Issue:
  5
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:e4592dc284120c7f16160dff273b692a732f23468109c6615bef16e99afee1e7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/45417/cdc_45417_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 87.90 KB ]