| Hypertension continues to take its toll on millions of African Americans, and large numbers of young adult African Americans have prehypertension. Adhering to an eating plan called DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) can significantly lower blood pressure. This study examined the effectiveness of problem solving training in addition to education on the DASH eating plan to help African Americans in an urban community college setting solve their own dietary problems and change eating behaviors.; The study was based on the Social Problem Solving Model and used a randomized, two group, multiple posttest design. Participants in the Experimental Group viewed an online education module called "DASH to Health" and an online Problem Solving Training Program. Participants in the Control Group viewed the education module only. All participants completed a Post-Intervention Problem Solving Instrument in which they described two problems with their eating habits that could have an effect on their blood pressure and possible solutions to solve each problem. Two weeks later, participants were asked what they had done so far about their problems. Solutions were rated for quality with the highest rating given for a solution that was safe, effective, and had potential for long-term adherence.; Seventy-eight adult African Americans completed the study protocol. Fewer than half (43.6%) had normal blood pressure on screening. Participants in the Experimental Group (M = 3.89, SD = .32) identified significantly higher quality solutions to the second of their two problems than participants in the Control Group (M = 3.47, SD = .88), F[1, 69] = 6.86, p = .01. Similar results were obtained for solutions implemented for the Experimental (M = 3.63, SD = .77) compared to the Control Group (M = 3.14, SD = 1.18), F[1, 69) = 4.29, p = .04. The intervention effect was the greatest for participants with blood pressure readings above normal. Findings from this study suggest that a brief nutrition intervention with problem solving training included may help African Americans to deal more effectively with dietary problems affecting blood pressure control especially when the problems are complex or less well-defined. |
