Given the persistence of an achievement gap between White and Black students and the positive association between parental involvement and student achievement, a greater understanding of factors that influence Black parents to participate in their children’s education is warranted. Using a qualitative methodology, this study investigated factors that contributed to such involvement, as reported by 22 Black parents. Although a majority of the parents exhibited beliefs and practices representative of a high level of parent self-efficacy, the results suggest that age and socioeconomic status influence parental motivations to participate in their children’s education.
Background: The LOGIC (LOtrel: Gauging Improved Control) study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of switching from amlodipine besylate mono-therapy to fixed-dose combination therapy with amlodipine besylate/ benazepril hydrochloride (HCl) in patients who were experiencing uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) or edema with monotherapy. Objective: This article reports the efficacy and tolerability of amlodipine besylate/benazepril HCl combination therapy in the predefined African-American population of the LOGIC study. Methods: This multicenter (1518 centers across the United States), practice-based, open-label, clinical trial enrolled patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. Patients in group 1 had uncontrolled BP (sitting diastolic BP [DBP] 90 mm Hg and 110 mm Hg) during treatment with amlodipine besylate monotherapy 5 or 10 mg/d, and those in group 2 had controlled BP (sitting DBP 90 mm Hg), but also had experienced edema during amlodipine besylate monotherapy. Participants were instructed to discontinue amlodipine besylate and were given amlodipine besylate/benazepril HCl 5/10 mg/d or 5/20 mg/d for 4 weeks. For group 1, the primary efficacy outcome was the change in mean sitting DBP (MSDBP) from baseline to week 4; a secondary efficacy outcome The results of the present study were presented at was the change in mean sitting systolic BP (MSSBP) from baseline to week 4. The primary efficacy outcome for group 2 was the percentage of patients whose edema improved with the switch to combination therapy. The secondary efficacy variables in group 2 were the changes in MSDBP and MSSBP from baseline to week 4. Patients in groups 1 and 2 were questioned about any adverse events that may have occurred since the previous visit. At both study visits, medications were reviewed, and the level of edema was assessed. Results: A total of 2055 African-American patients were enrolled in the study. At study end, African-American patients in group 1 (n = 1422 assessable patients) experienced significant reductions in MSSBP (13.9 mm Hg) and MSDBP (10.4 mm Hg) from those achieved during amlodipine besylate monotherapy (both P < 0.001). In group 2 (n = 266 assessable patients), 81% of African-American patients reported improvement in edema, and BP remained well controlled. Conclusions: In this study of an African-American subpopulation of patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension who had uncontrolled BP while receiving amlodipine besylate monotherapy, switching from amlodipine besy-late monotherapy to fixed-dose amlodipine besylate/benazepril HCl combination therapy reduced BP to a greater extent than with amlodipine besylate alone, and reduced the incidence of edema in patients who were edematous but who had controlled BP. Fixed-dose combination therapy with amlodipine besylate/benazepril HCl has the potential to improve BP control, leading to improved clinical outcomes and enhanced treatment compliance. (Curr Ther
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