Key result
Mobile health clinic intervention successfully contacts 66% of participants provided with self-monitoring BP devices.
Why the study?
Mobile health clinics offer screening for elevated blood pressure to mitigate racial disparities, but the impact of this process on subsequent diagnosis and hypertension management is unknown.
Providing free self-monitoring blood pressure devices at mobile health clinics yields high device utilization and encourages primary care follow-up, though phone-based follow-up remains challenging in underserved populations.
Racial disparities in the management of hypertension, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, are prevalent. Mobile health clinics, including the University of Minnesota (UMN) Mobile Health Initiative (MHI), seek to mitigate these disparities by providing underserved individuals with access to screening for elevated blood pressure. However, the impact of this process on subsequent care, including diagnosis and management of hypertension, is unknown. Individuals with elevated blood pressure at UMN MHI screening events were provided with a free self-monitoring blood pressure device (SMBP) and a follow-up phone call two weeks after the event. The primary outcome was the percentage of participants reached with a follow-up call; secondary outcomes included SMBP usage and arrangement of primary care follow-up. Fifty-six participants were enrolled, with a mean age of 57 ± 14 years, half were women, and more than 80% self-identified as non-white. Thirty-seven (66%) participants were successfully reached with a follow-up phone call. The average time to reach participants was 36 days. Fifteen (41%) required more than one phone call attempt. Of the 37 participants who were successfully contacted, 33 (89%) had used SMBP, 27 (82%) reported using the SMBP at least weekly, and 21 (57%) had contacted their primary care doctor by the time of the follow-up phone call. Participant use of SMBP devices was high; however, contacting individuals for follow-up via phone calls was challenging. Distribution of SMBP devices and follow-up phone calls may be a useful way for mobile health clinics to help individuals with hypertension improve their management through increased awareness and by creating a bridge to primary care follow-up.
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A 2026 study studied Elevated blood pressure (n=56). Self-monitoring blood pressure (SMBP) device and follow-up phone call was evaluated on Percentage of participants successfully contacted by phone after the clinic visit. A mobile health clinic intervention providing self-monitoring blood pressure devices and follow-up calls successfully contacted 66% of participants, with 89% of those reached reporting device usage.
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