Key result
Telemonitored self-measured blood pressure proves feasible and acceptable among Iraqi and Syrian refugees.
Why the study?
Evidence on the acceptability and feasibility of self‐measured blood pressure monitoring in refugee populations is limited despite their high cardiovascular risk due to poorly controlled BP.
Is a 6-week self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring with telemonitoring protocol acceptable and feasible in Iraqi and Syrian refugees?
Is a 6-week self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring with telemonitoring protocol acceptable and feasible in Iraqi and Syrian refugees?
Self-measured blood pressure monitoring with a telemonitoring protocol is an acceptable and feasible intervention for Iraqi and Syrian refugee populations.
Supports SMBP exploration in refugees; leaves open efficacy and requires randomized trials before adoption.
Background Self‐measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring improves long‐term blood pressure (BP) outcomes, but evidence on the acceptability and feasibility of SMBP in refugee populations is limited. Refugees face high cardiovascular risk due to poorly controlled BP. Methods We recruited Iraqi and Syrian refugees living in San Diego, California, through the Family Health Centers of San Diego and enrolled them in a 6‐week single‐arm pilot acceptability and feasibility trial of SMBP with telemonitoring protocol modeled after the TASMIN (Telemonitoring and Self‐Management in Hypertension) SMBP trial in the United Kingdom. Postintervention interviews assessed barriers and facilitators of the intervention. Inductive thematic analysis was performed, and results were organized using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. Quantitative participant data were analyzed descriptively. Results A total of 101 refugees participated (80% Iraqi individuals; mean age, 64±9.7; 49% men). Participants generally favored having their BP readings telemonitored and transmitted to their BP providers' office over completing the physical diary. Facilitators of SMBP included increased self‐autonomy, device user friendliness, increased participant confidence, and family support. Barriers included device malfunction, old age, comorbidities, everyday life obligations, diary complexity, and forgetfulness. Participants emphasized for future interventions to promote autonomy, family engagement, and include a streamlined BP tracking method while also integrating provider–patient decision making. Conclusions This is the first study of SMBP among refugees. The intervention was found to be acceptable and feasible. Participants felt valued, self‐autonomous, and confident in SMBP. Future interventions that use technology, family support, team‐based care, and user‐friendly devices may improve BP control in this population.
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Kamal et al. (2026) studied Hypertension / Cardiovascular risk in refugees (n=101). Self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) with telemonitoring was evaluated on Acceptability and feasibility (barriers and facilitators of the intervention). A 6-week single-arm pilot of self-measured blood pressure with telemonitoring was found to be acceptable and feasible among Iraqi and Syrian refugees.
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