Abstract

Purpose: Determine the extent to which the lifestyles of Jamaican men with hypertension met the guidelines of the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7).

Design and Methods: Following informed consent, a convenience sample of Jamaican men with hypertension (n = 48), of African ethnicity, attending a Type 5 Health Center was interviewed over a four week period, using a 31-item interview schedule.

Results: Mean age of respondents was 65.2 (± 12.1) years (range = 35-89 years) with 33% having blood pressure (BP) controlled to 130/80 mmHg. Those meeting the guidelines were normal weight 23 (47.9%), DASH (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) diet zero, medication 7 (14.6%), exercise 14 (29.2%), alcohol restriction 38 (79.2%), and smoking cessation 40 (83.3%). Medication adherence was associated with BP control (r = −0.30, p < .04). More than half of the respondents believed that hypertension could be cured and that they could stop all treatment if their BP was normal.

Discussion and Conclusions: Only a third of the sample had BP controlled to ≤130/80 mmHg. Adherence to the JNC 7 lifestyle guidelines was inadequate.

Implications for Practice: A nurse led intervention, focusing on perceptions and lifestyle practices, is indicated.