Professional Practice

Prevalence of Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring, Medication Adherence, Self-Efficacy, Stage of Change, and Blood Pressure Control Among Municipal Workers With Hypertension

Tonya L. Breaux-Shropshire, PhD, MPH, RN; Kathleen C. Brown, PhD, RN; Erica R. Pryor, PhD, RN; Elizabeth H. Maples, PhD

  • Workplace Health & Safety (formerly AAOHN Journal)
  • June 2012 - Volume 60 · Issue 6: 265-271
  • DOI: 10.3928/21650799-20120523-18
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Abstract

Despite the availability of effective medications, hypertension remains inadequately managed in the United States. It has been established that medication adherence is a major strategy for controlling blood pressure. Combined interventions to promote adherence are promising, but further research is needed to understand which behaviors to target. The frequency of self-monitoring of blood pressure among municipal workers is unknown, and the literature is limited regarding assessing individuals’ readiness and confidence to engage in medication adherence. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of medication adherence, readiness, self-efficacy, self-monitoring of blood pressure, and blood pressure control among hypertensive municipal workers. The study population was enrolled in a wellness program established more than 20 years ago to promote health and safety for a work force in a large southeastern U.S. city. The majority of the study participants (75.7%) demonstrated controlled blood pressure, reported adherence to antihypertensive medication (70%), and self-monitored blood pressure (70%).

AUTHORS

Dr. Breaux-Shropshire is Adjunct Faculty, Nursing Community Health, Outcomes, and Systems, and a Post Doctoral Fellow, Cardiovascular Disease, Vascular Biology and Hypertension Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL. Dr. Brown is Professor and Chair, Nursing Community Health, Outcomes, and Systems, School of Nursing; Dr. Pryor is PhD Program Coordinator and Associate Professor, School of Nursing; and Dr. Maples is Deputy Director and Assistant Professor, Deep South Center for Occupational Health and Safety, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.

The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.

Address correspondence to Tonya L. Breaux-Shropshire, PhD, MPH, RN, Adjunct Faculty, Nursing Community Health, Outcomes, and Systems, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294. E-mail: tshropshire@uab.edu.

Received: October 26, 2011
Accepted: March 05, 2012

doi: 10.3928/21650799-20120523-18

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