By Teri Speece
\nFor many patients with high blood pressure, taking steps to eat right, be active and take their medications can be a challenge. Venetia Cantrell, D.N.P., M.S.N., B.S.N., FNP-BC, found an effective way to change behaviors for one group by addressing their health where they practice their faith.<\/p>\n
Dr. Cantrell, a 2016 graduate of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program in the School of Nursing, launched a three-month project with 124 members of her church to measure the effectiveness of combining faith and health education to improve blood pressure. Participants were predominately African American, an ethnic group with the highest prevalence of cardiovascular disease.\u00a0 \u201cI wanted to choose a subject that was close to home, and I have high blood pressure,\u201d said Dr. Cantrell, who turned to the Health & Wellness Ministry of Covenant Community Church in San Antonio for help. The team incorporated ideas from the Centers for Disease Control\u2019s \u201cMillion Hearts\u201d public health initiative into the church\u2019s program, which already offered monthly blood pressure screenings.\u00a0 The team distributed weekly fliers with meal ideas, heart health facts and scriptures about wellness. They began monthly fellowship events with guest speakers, who discussed risk factors and prevention.\u00a0 The church also incorporated healthier dishes into all fellowship meals. \u201cWe wanted our members to eat a little healthier. That was originally a six-month trial, but it\u2019s still going today.\u201d<\/p>\n
The project also concentrated on encouraging physical activity by walking the church parking lot and dancing. \u201cI was able to get a line dance instructor to teach us steps to gospel music. We had a big turnout for that,\u201d said Dr. Cantrell.\u00a0 One of the simplest additions\u2014providing wallet-size cards to members with their screening results\u2014empowered many participants to take better control of their condition.\u00a0 \u201cOne member said that, as a result of taking her numbers back to her doctor, she was able to get her medication adjusted to better control her blood pressure,\u201d she said.\u00a0 Dr. Cantrell\u2019s results demonstrated notable improvements in most of the participants\u2019 blood pressure readings and health habits. More importantly, participants enthusiastically report continuing to practice good habits, said Carolyn Poole, a registered nurse who leads the Health & Wellness Ministry.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany members\u00a0come up to me to report what their pressures are and what they are still doing to change their diet\u2014getting rid of canned goods, buying fresh or frozen vegetables and getting off the salt,\u201d said Poole.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt became very enlightening for a lot of them, because when they started adhering to the treatment plan, their numbers started to improve,\u201d said Poole. \u201cThey could see the results.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Cantrell said the experience taught her that a lot of people do not understand normal blood pressure range, but they want more information.\u00a0 \u201cThey say things like, \u2018Oh, that\u2019s how my blood pressure has always been; that\u2019s normal for me.\u2019 Just to be able to educate people about cardiovascular disease was wonderful, and to work with them, actually see results and get positive feedback, that was great,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As a graduate of the School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Program, Venetia Cantrell, D.N.P., M.S.N., FNP-BC, used her nursing leadership skills to help church members improve their heart health. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,5,12],"magazine":[24],"issue-year":[20],"featured-story":[],"class_list":["post-475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","category-community","category-research","magazine-tribute","issue-year-20"],"yoast_head":"\n