Hypertension Education with Telehealth Follow-up at the Ouzinkie Medical Clinic

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this paper is to highlight current literature on the prevalence of hypertension in rural Alaskan villages and present how a hypertension education program with telehealth follow-up to the remote villages can have a significant impact on helping Alaskan Natives reach target blood pressure goals. Background: The vast state of Alaska is also one of the least populated. Alaskan Natives, however, exhibit a higher prevalence of hypertension. It is also suspected that the number of those Alaskan Natives with hypertension is under reported with many of them not even aware that they have the condition. Researchers have delved into the realm of counteracting the epidemic proportions of disparities facing Alaskan Natives. Methods: A search of three popular databases was utilized to select 30 articles between 2015 and the present relating to hypertension, rural Alaska, and telehealth. The additional filter of English language was applied. Results: Alaska Natives living in Ouzinkie, Alaska also suffer from poor health literacy related to hypertension. Pre-intervention mean scores were 61.25%; however, after intervention, overall mean scores increased to 97.25% (+36%). Moreover, seven of eight participants scored higher individually after partaking in the hypertension education program—one participant scored 100% pre- and post-intervention. Conclusions: The hypertension education program was an unparalleled and distinct method of raising awareness and knowledge of hypertension. The telehealth follow-up provided a support mechanism that re-enforced the educational material resulting in participants exhibiting increased awareness and knowledge of hypertension.