Covid-19 is an additional stressor Black women have to deal with that may interfere with hypertension self-care management. Social connectedness is a source of resilience for Black women to promote mental and physical health. Unfortunately, in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing is a challenge further isolating Black women from their networks. How is social connectedness to manage stress and emotional well-being in a social-distancing society for Black women with hypertension? The research team proposed a synchronous web-based version of Enhanced Co-Created Health Education InterventioN (eCo-CHIN) that build the success and best practices derived from the original intervention. A Covid-19 session will be included as a way of helping Black women to maintain resilience and self-care during stressful times. The eCo-CHIN intervention is innovative and timely because the research team are using a synchronous platform preparing Black women on how to deal with Covid-19 while taking care of self. The primary investigator for this pilot study (Dr. Wright) is a Black Early Stage Investigator and former KL2 (career development) awardee. The interdisciplinary research team has the expertise and resources to deliver this Enhanced Co-CHIN intervention.
The rationale for the study is that the adherence to healthy self-care behaviors reduces poor
nutrition, altered sleep, sedentary behavior, psychosocial stress, and emotional
dysregulation, thereby reducing negative impacts on the brain, since all these factors
contribute to neural inflammation and increased BP. Health-promoting self-care behaviors have
the known short-term effect of enhanced cognitive function (processing speed, attention, and
executive function) through the use of The Repeatable Neuropsychiatric Battery (RBANS) which
is also an innovative component of OUR Project. Thirty middle-aged Black women (45-65 years
old) with a self-reported diagnosis of hypertension will be enrolled. The development of this
group-delivered intervention will be an iterative process, and the research team will use
this pilot data to submit an R21 for a 12-week intervention through the National Institutes
on Aging.
Behavioral: Stress and emotion management
Group intervention led by a nurse and dietitian to address stress, emotion management and healthy lifestyle for African American women with hypertension. The weekly sessions will include:how to manage stress during Covid-19, taking blood pressure, interpersonal relationships skills, mindful awareness, restful sleep, physical activity, and healthy eating.
Inclusion Criteria:
- English speaking,
- self-identification as Black/African America
- diagnosis of hypertension (treated with medications and or lifestyle management)
- female sex
- access to a smart phone or a computer capable of connecting to the Internet
Exclusion Criteria:
- no access to computer with internet Smart phone
- diagnosis of resistant hypertension defined as blood pressure that remains above goal
despite concurrent use of three antihypertensive agents of different classes, one of
which should be a diuretic/water pill.
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Kathy D Wright, PhD, RN, Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor