Browsing by keyword "Blacks"
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Does Home Remedy Use Contribute to Medication Nonadherence Among Blacks with HypertensionBackground: Home remedies (HRs) are described as foods, herbs, and other household products used to manage chronic conditions. The objective of this study was to examine home remedy (HR) use among Blacks with hypertension and to determine if home remedy use is correlated with blood pressure and medication adherence. Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study were obtained from the TRUST study conducted between 2006-2008. Medication adherence was measured using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, and HR use was self-reported. Multivariable associations were quantified using ordinal logistic regression. Results: The study sample consisted of 788 Blacks with hypertension living in the southern region of the United States. HR use was associated with higher systolic (HR users 152.79, nonusers 149.53; P=.004) and diastolic blood pressure (HR users 84.10, nonusers 82.14 P=.005). Use of two or more HRs was associated with low adherence (OR: .55, CI: .36-.83, P= .004). Conclusion: The use of HR and the number of HRs used may be associated with medication nonadherence, and higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure among Blacks with hypertension. Medication nonadherence is of critical importance for individuals with hypertension, and it is essential that health care providers be aware of health behaviors that may serve as barriers to medication adherence, such as use of home remedies.
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Examining medication adherence and preferences for a lifestyle intervention among Black and Latinx adults with hypertension: a feasibility studyBACKGROUND: Approximately 116.4 million adults in the USA have hypertension, and the rates of uncontrolled hypertension remain higher among racial and ethnic minorities. There is a need for effective interventions that promote healthy behaviors and long-term behavioral change in the management of hypertension. The primary objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of developing a lifestyle intervention that would assess hypertension management and the use of technology among Blacks and Latinx with hypertension. The secondary objective is to explore perceptions of community-based resources for hypertension and preferences for a lifestyle intervention for hypertension among Blacks and Latinx with hypertension. METHODS: In this explanatory mixed-methods study, quantitative data were collected using surveys, participants reported their use of technology and adherence to antihypertensive medication. Participants were Black and Latinx adults with hypertension living in Central Pennsylvania, USA. Qualitative data were obtained from semi-structured interviews and focus groups, and participants were asked about managing hypertension, local resources, and preferences for a behavioral intervention. Data were examined using summary statistics for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data. RESULTS: Black and Latinx participants (n=30) completed surveys for the quantitative study. The majority (75%) of participants self-reported being confident in managing their medication without help and remembering to take their medication as prescribed. Fewer participants (54.2%) reported using technology to help manage medication. There were 12 participants in the qualitative phase of the study. The qualitative findings indicated that participants felt confident in their ability to manage hypertension and were interested in participating in a lifestyle intervention or program based online. Some participants reported a lack of resources in their community, while others highlighted local and national resources that were helpful in managing high blood pressure. CONCLUSION: This study provides important insights on barriers and facilitators for managing hypertension, current use of technology and interest in using technology to manage hypertension, and preferences for future lifestyle interventions among racial and ethnic minorities. This study also provides insights to the health needs and resources available in this community and how future behavioral interventions could be tailored to meet the needs of this community. The findings of this study will be used to inform the tailoring of future lifestyle interventions; specifically, we will include text messaging reminders for medication and to disseminate educational materials related to hypertension and provide resources to connect study participants with local and national resources.
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Higher Educational Attainment is Associated with Lower Risk of a Future Suicide Attempt Among Non-Hispanic Whites but not Non-Hispanic BlacksPURPOSE: In a sample of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED), the current study was conducted with two aims: (1) to investigate the protective effects of educational attainment (i.e., completing college) on subsequent risk of suicide attempt/death among patients presenting to the ED and (2) to compare this effect between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White ED patients. METHODS: The current study analyzed data from the Emergency Department Safety Assessment and Follow-Up Evaluation (ED-SAFE) study, a quasi-experimental, eight-center study of universal suicide screening and follow-up of ED patients presenting for suicidal ideation and behavior. Our sample included 937 non-Hispanic White and 211 non-Hispanic Blacks. The dependent variable was suicide attempt/death during the 52-week follow-up. The independent variable was completing college. Age, gender, lesbian/gay/bisexual status, psychiatric history, and previous suicide attempts at baseline were covariates. Race/ethnicity was the focal effect modifier. Logistic regression models were used to test the protective effects of educational attainment on suicide risk in the overall sample and by race/ethnicity. RESULTS: In the overall sample, educational attainment was not associated with suicide risk over the follow-up period. A significant interaction was found between race/ethnicity and educational attainment on suicide risk, suggesting a larger protective effect for non-Hispanic Whites compared with non-Hispanic Blacks. In race/ethnicity-specific models, completing college was associated with decreased future suicide risk for non-Hispanic Whites but not Blacks. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with the Minorities' Diminished Return theory, educational attainment better protected non-Hispanic White than non-Hispanic Blacks against future suicide attempt/death. While Whites who have not completed college may be at an increased risk of suicide, risk of suicide seems to be independent of educational attainment for non-Hispanic Blacks.
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Variation in Colorectal Cancer Screening Practices According to Cardiovascular Disease Status and Race/EthnicityPURPOSE: To assess current estimates of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening practices in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD) status and whether this association varies by race/ethnicity. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018 among US adults aged 50-75 years (n = 807,937). Participants' self-reported CRC screening practices were categorized as being up-to-date, not up-to-date, or never screened. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess whether self-reported prevalent CVD was associated with CRC screening practices after adjusting for several potentially confounding variables; additional analyses were stratified by race/ethnicity. RESULTS: One-quarter of US adults had never been screened for CRC, while 67.0% reported being up-to-date with CRC screening. The proportion of Hispanics who had never been screened (35.3%) was higher than non-Hispanic Whites (23.5%) and Blacks (20.6%). Adults with CVD were less likely to never have been screened (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.88-0.95) or not to be up-to-date (aOR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.86-0.94) on CRC screening than those without CVD. CONCLUSION: The presence of CVD is associated with better adherence to CRC screening guidelines. Poor CRC screening utilization in Hispanics should be a priority for further investigation and intervention.
