Hypertension is a risk factor for heart disease.
Hypertension is an area of concern in public health in the United States because the condition has the potential to affect a large segment of the population. Finding effective ways to educate the public about hypertension is one method of preventing or treating the condition. Education on the subject must be done with individuals and large groups.
Community Programs
Population-based hypertension education programs are promoted by the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and other national, state and local public health programs as an effective way to educate entire communities about the condition. Community programs are often coordinated by community service organizations and centered around a specific ethnic or cultural group. According to the National Institutes of Health, community programs for hypertension education include activities at schools, work sites, restaurants, grocery stores and cultural events. These programs often include educational components such as nutrition, physical activity, weight management and sodium intake as measures to prevent or reduce hypertension.
Awareness Campaigns
Public-awareness campaigns are another way to educate large numbers of the population about hypertension. Media services such as radio, television, print and the Internet are common outlets for awareness campaigns; billboards, telephone and mass mailings are other sources of hypertension education. Awareness campaigns are often conducted using a culturally appropriate method, sometimes in multiple languages, depending on the geographic area. These campaigns also focus on making policy and environmental changes that support hypertension education. In addition to awareness campaigns for the general public, hypertension education campaigns might also target physicians, politicians and program directors of nonprofit agencies who have a stake in the issue. Many organizations work in partnership to develop awareness campaigns for hypertension education; collaborations often include civic or cultural groups, research or educational institutions and medical care providers.
Patient Education
Doctors and nurses provide education to patients about hypertension in many forms. Verbal education is often provided at the time of service, especially when a patient's blood pressure is measured. Patients are often asked to complete a family and personal health history form, sometimes once a year, as well as when visiting a new provider. Indicating a personal or family history of hypertension is another opportunity for verbal education about the condition. After an abnormal blood pressure reading, nurses or doctors might consider providing a patient with written materials such as a pamphlet or fact sheet educating about the dangers of hypertension. Doctors or nurses might also consider educational DVDs or CDs, as well as pocket-size cards and other giveaways for educating individual patients about hypertension.
Tags: hypertension education, about hypertension, about condition, awareness campaigns, blood pressure, Doctors nurses, Institutes Health
