Keywords

 

Authors

  1. Lewis, Lisa M. PhD, RN
  2. Ogedegbe, Gbenga MD, MPH, MS

Abstract

Racial disparities in hypertension prevalence and its attendant complications are well documented. Spirituality is an important component of African American beliefs and a small body of literature suggests that spirituality influences hypertension management in African Americans. This article describes a conceptual model of spirituality that may be useful for developing interventions for increasing medication adherence and decreasing blood pressure in African Americans diagnosed with hypertension.