The FAITH Trial: Baseline Characteristics of a Church-based Trial to Improve Blood Pressure Control in Blacks

Abstract

Objective: To describe the baseline characteristics of participants in the Faith-based Approaches in the Treatment of Hypertension (FAITH) Trial.Design: FAITH evaluates the effectiveness of a faith-based lifestyle intervention vs health education control on blood pressure (BP) reduction among hypertensive Black adults. Setting, Participants, and Main Measures:Participants included 373 members of 32 Black churches in New York City. Baseline data collected included participant demographic characteristics, clinical measures (eg, blood pressure), behaviors (eg, diet, physical activity), and psychosocial factors (eg, self-efficacy, depressive symptoms).Results: Participants had a mean age of 63.4 ± 11.9 years and 76% were female. About half completed at least some college (53%), 66% had an income ≥$20,000, and 42.2% were retired or on disability. Participants had a mean systolic and diastolic BP of 152.1 ± 16.8 mm Hg and 86.2 ± 12.2 mm Hg, respectively, and a mean BMI of 32 kg/m 2 . Hypertension (HTN) medications were taken by 95% of participants, but most (79.1%) reported non-adherence to their regimen. Participants reported consuming 3.4 ± 2.6 servings of fruits and vegetables and received 30.9% of their energy from fat. About one-third (35.9%) reported a low activity level. Conclusion:Participants in the FAITH trial exhibited several adverse clinical and behavioral characteristics at baseline. Future analyses will evaluate the effectiveness of the faith-based lifestyle intervention on changes in BP and lifestyle behaviors among hypertensive Black adults. Ethn Dis. 2015;25[3]:337-344.

Cultural coping as a risk for depression and hypertension: the SABPA prospective study

“…spiritual-centred coping or seeking social support. 13,[25][26][27] We have shown novel findings in Africa that there are significant cultural differences in coping patterns of blacks and whites, and herewith support the notion of similar studies that suggested that culture has a significant effect on coping with stress. 26,28 The impact of coping disability will inevitably have an impact on susceptibility to CVD.…”

“…13,[25][26][27] We have shown novel findings in Africa that there are significant cultural differences in coping patterns of blacks and whites, and herewith support the notion of similar studies that suggested that culture has a significant effect on coping with stress. 26,28 The impact of coping disability will inevitably have an impact on susceptibility to CVD. From a neuro-theological perspective, it is interesting to note that this research may also reflect what is found in other literature, such as the Christian Bible, where the apostle Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 27 how the different functioning parts of the body depend on each other [touch/tactile (palms of hands and soles of feet), the ear, the eye and smell].…”

Physical Activity Interventions With African American or Latino Men: A Systematic Review

“…The included studies were: Camine Con Gusto (CCG) ( Callahan et al, 2016 ), Faith-based Approaches in the Treatment of Hypertension (FAITH) trial ( Schoenthaler et al, 2015 ), the Healthy Eating and Active Living in the Spirit (HEALS) program( Adams et al, 2015 ; Hébert et al, 2013 ), Men on the Move (MOTM)—Flint ( Griffith, Allen, Johnson-Lawrence, & Langford, 2014 ), Men on the Move (MOTM) —Nashville ( Cornish et al, 2017 ; Dean et al, 2016 ), and two unnamed programs ( Hooker, Harmon, Burroughs, Rheaume, & Wilcox, 2011 ; Kendzor et al, 2016 ). The primary study outcome for four of the studies was physical activity ( Cornish et al, 2017 ; Dean et al, 2016 ; Griffith et al, 2014 ; Hooker, Harmon et al, 2011 ; Kendzor et al, 2016 ), and the primary outcomes for the other three studies were arthritis symptoms and physical function (CCG) ( Callahan et al, 2016 ), blood pressure (FAITH) ( Schoenthaler et al, 2015 ), and C-reactive protein levels (HEALS) ( Adams et al, 2015 ; Hébert et al, 2013 ) (See Table 3 ). Of the seven included studies, two studies used a randomized control design, one of which was a cluster-randomized trial.…”

Psychometric Testing of the Self-care of Hypertension Inventory

“…Several large clinical trials of ethnic minority persons with HTN have demonstrated the importance of self-efficacy and engagement in health promoting behaviors associated with BP control. 34,35 For example, in the Counseling of African Americans to Control Hypertension (CAATCH) trial (n=1039), self-efficacy for medication taking was higher in the intervention group than in the control group (p=.02). 36 Self-efficacy is often targeted in cardiovascular risk reduction interventions focused on increasing physical activity, diet modification, weight management and smoking cessation.…”