DNP Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Hypertension is a chronic disease that has been a major problem in the African American community for decades. Although numerous research studies have examined interventions to combat this disease, there has been very little research published that focused on African Americans with hypertension in a rural setting. Rural residents experience many difficulties in accessing healthcare services. This difficult access is a disadvantage that results in higher morbidity and mortality rates compared to those of their urban counterparts. Being from a small town in Mississippi, I have witnessed first hand the many barriers that are encountered. Individuals who live in a rural community may have limited access to healthcare providers. Residents may need to travel greater distances for healthcare, and the healthcare facilities in these areas are small and oftentimes provide services only during particular hours. The main objective of this DNP scholarly project was to evaluate a strategy to motivate African Americans in rural communities to improve hypertension control as one step toward improved involvement in their personal health.

This journey began with a synthesis of literature, which focused on reviewing the barriers associated with medication non-adherence and interventions used to improve blood pressure control. Once the information was gathered and the gaps were identified, the direction of the scholarly project was clear. After clarifying the purpose of the project, work began to select a theoretical framework for the project. The second paper describes the Integrative Model of Behavior Change and the three-step process used to motivate and encourage behavior change. With the purpose clearly defined and a strong theoretical foundation, the scholarly project was planned, implemented, evaluated, and disseminated. The final paper describes that process.

The work reflected in these papers is a beginning with the potential to positively impact the health of African Americans with hypertension in a small rural community. Perhaps the beginning work will spread beyond this single community. The author is encouraged about the potential of this work to continue positive influence on health.

Date

4-29-2014

First Advisor

Dr. Linda Wofford

Department

Nursing, School of

College

Health Sciences & Nursing, Gordon E. Inman College of

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree

Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Degree Level

Doctoral

Degree Grantor

Belmont University

Keywords

hypertension; medication adherence; African Americans; interventions

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