Urban Heartbeat: Hypertension Awareness for Older Adults

Hypertension (HTN) remains a prevalent chronic condition among older adults (OAs), necessitating comprehensive strategies to enhance health literacy (HL) and treatment adherence. The project implemented a six-week community-based health education program (CBHEP) at an adult recreation center in East Valley, Arizona, from October 18 to November 26, 2025. Guided by the Health Literate Care (HLC) model, the intervention’s theoretical framework focused on HTN self-management through structured education, self-monitoring blood pressure (SMBP) workshops, and provider-patient communication strategies. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle served as the implementation framework to optimize program delivery. Seven participants aged 65 and older diagnosed with HTN were enrolled following expedited approval from the Arizona State University (ASU) Institutional Review Board (IRB). Primary outcomes assessed compliance with HTN therapy using the Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy (H-BCHBPT) scale. Secondary outcomes analyzed blood pressure (BP) trends over time. Descriptive statistics, frequencies, and paired t-tests revealed no statistically significant difference in compliance between pre- and post-intervention (p = .730), with a small effect size (d = 0.14). However, BP trends demonstrated a gradual decline, suggesting improved BP management. This study supports health literacy-focused, community-based interventions as viable strategies for HTN management in OAs. Strong participant engagement and program feasibility were notable strengths, while recruitment and small sample size posed challenges. Future research should scale the intervention with larger cohorts, enhance retention strategies, and extend follow-up to assess long-term impact.