Published On: 21 November 2022

The Race Equality Foundation has launched an innovative new project, together with Smart Health Solutions, Younger Lives and Blood Pressure UK, to address high blood pressure amongst Black African and Caribbean people using a shared decision-making tool.

People from Black African and Black Caribbean communities are more likely to develop high blood pressure, but what is less known is how the condition is understood and managed within these communities.

The project, funded by the Burdett Trust, will involve developing and piloting a nurse-led motivational change model for managing high blood pressure. It will target Black Caribbean and African communities living in Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark and Lambeth and will be delivered initially through GP practices in the South East London Integrated Care System.

It will involve:

  • blood pressure testing within the community;
  • the development of the Heart Age Tool (an online risk management programme where individuals get a tailored report on how to lower their blood pressure) specifically focused on Black African and Caribbean communities;
  • training healthcare professionals to deliver the programme; and
  • an evaluation of the programme.

There are a number of reasons why high blood pressure is not addressed within Black African and Caribbean communities. These include a lack of knowledge, certain beliefs about the condition and symptoms, healthcare messaging not landing, and the belief that a diagnosis will mean a lifetime of medication, amongst other things.

Jabeer Butt OBE, CEO of the Race Equality Foundation said: “We know that improved health messaging and better engagement can improve awareness of high blood pressure and how it can be managed. We saw this in action through our previous project where we worked in community settings, such as barbershops, to carry out blood pressure testing and raise awareness of high blood pressure amongst Black African and Caribbean men. This project will build on that work, as well as the work of our project partners, to help those people at highest risk to take control of their health.”

The project will run until 31 August 2023. Find out more on the Race Equality Foundation’s website here.

ENDS

 

  1. Press contact: comms@racefound.org.uk/ 07593 454182
  2. About the Race Equality Foundation

The Race Equality Foundation is a national charity tackling racial inequality across public services to improve the lives of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. We do this by:

  • Exploring what is known about discrimination and disadvantage
  • Developing evidence-based better practice to promote equality
  • Sharing better practice through educational activities, conferences, written & online material
  • Working with national and local partners from the community, voluntary, statutory and social enterprise sectors.

The Foundation was established in 1987 as part of the National Institute for Social Work and was known as the Race Equality Unit. It became an independent charitable organisation in 1995, and in 2006, changed its name to the Race Equality Foundation.

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  1. About Blood Pressure UK
  • Blood Pressure UK is the only UK charity dedicated to lowering high blood pressure. Their aim is to lower the nation’s blood pressure to prevent death and disability from stroke and heart disease.
  1. About Smart Health Solutions
  • Smart Health Solutions’ passion is the prevention and management of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). The work they do is driven by their desire to reduce health inequalities and improve health equity. As a leading provider of NHS Health Check Training, their mission is to improve the uptake and quality of the Programme.
  1. About Younger Lives
  • Younger Lives are specialists in evidence-based behaviour change and healthy ageing. They build innovative solutions to help people live longer, healthier and happier lives. ​​​They have worked for over 20 years with many big names across the private and public sector, including Movember, Unilever, Bupa and the NHS.