Research Project Summary
Nearly half of U.S. adults have hypertension, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. This community-based research project implements a four-month Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring (SMBP) intervention in partnership with the Gloucester County YMCA. The program provides participants with a home blood pressure cuff and combines biweekly one-on-one coaching sessions with monthly group seminars on nutrition and physical activity. The project will evaluate the program’s feasibility (e.g. participation rates and adherence), effectiveness (clinical impact) and affordability (cost-effectiveness).
By empowering adults to regularly monitor their blood pressure and engage in healthy lifestyle education, this project aims to improve hypertension self-management and inform a scalable model for community-based blood pressure control. Ultimately, the findings will guide future expansion of SMBP programs through community organizations like the YMCA to reduce the burden of uncontrolled hypertension in South Jersey.
Research Project Goals
We aim to achieve two primary goals through this project. First, we seek to strengthen hypertension management by empowering adults with high blood pressure to improve their control through consistent self-monitoring and healthier lifestyle choices. By promoting regular blood pressure tracking, improved nutrition education, and physical activity, the program can help support long-term cardiovascular health.
Second, we will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this self-monitoring blood pressure (SMBP) intervention in a community setting. Specifically, we will assess the feasibility, costs, and participant response to implementing the program through the YMCA. Insights from this analysis will help determine whether the approach is practical, scalable, and sustainable for broader adoption by community-based organizations.
Research Project Objectives
The evaluation will assess participant engagement, blood pressure outcomes, and the program’s cost-effectiveness. Engagement will be measured through adherence to self-monitoring and attendance at coaching and seminar sessions. Clinical impact will be evaluated by changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Cost-effectiveness will be determined by the additional cost associated with each mm Hg reduction in blood pressure.