Experiences of Accessing Medical Care by African American Men with Hypertension

I am pleased to present the ABSTRACT of  the Ph.D. Dissertation prepared and presented by Dr. Sandra Grosvenor to Walden University, September, 2012.

Abstract

Experiences of Accessing Medical Care by African American Men with Hypertension

by

Sandra Grosvenor

M.H.S.A., University of St. Francis, 2004

B.S., University of St. Francis, 2000

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

Health Services

Walden University

August 2012

Abstract

The challenges and barriers that African American men with hypertension experience when accessing medical care on the Gulf Coast of Florida was the focus of this qualitative study. More than 50 million African Americans are affected by hypertension or high blood pressure. Still, many African American men may not understand the relationships between their social habits and their medical condition or how treatments such as receiving medical care for high blood pressure and eating certain foods could help improve their overall health. This descriptive qualitative study explored the lived experiences of working poor and indigent African American men between the ages of 25 and 55 with hypertension. Becker’s health belief model and Bracht’s health promotion model were used as conceptual frameworks to guide the research. Research questions were: What are the experiences of African American men when they access medical care for high blood pressure? How are African American men managing their blood pressure? What are some culturally acceptable ways to reach and competently treat African American men with high blood pressure? Four sources of data were analyzed and included questionnaires, surveys, interviews, and field notes.  A community center where African Americans frequent daily was utilized for the study. Findings showed that many African American men were not managing their high blood pressure, and had some challenges getting health care. The implications for  social change are that the health beliefs and perceptions of individuals,  have the potential to reduce the high incidences of hypertension through effective health services directly at the community level.