Learning Objective 1: Identify one barrier to and facilitator for taking blood pressure medication on a regular basis in a Mexican American and immigrant sample.
Learning Objective 2: Discuss one difference between Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants regarding barriers to high blood pressure treatment.
Method: A phenomenological study was appropriate to describe adults' experiences with hypertension. One-time interviews took place in the clinic or in the client's home. Final sample was 26 adults, self-identified as Mexican-origin, average age 55.0 years, 50% male, 7.3 years since diagnosis. All immigrants were uninsured while all Mexican Americans had Medicaid or Medicare.
Findings: The diagnosis of HTN causes fear, anger, and depression. Some do not know what causes HTN and others believe in both personal and external causes. Some believe that HTN will last the rest of his/her life, but most believe it is of shorter duration. Findings about the management of HTN include forgetting to take medication some days and not being able to afford it. Some have developed a daily routine that includes the medication or have assistance from family members to take their pills. Two themes were different for Mexican immigrants versus Mexican Americans; the cost of treatment and discrimination in health care.
Implications: Future interventions with these populations need to include teaching about the disease and assisting with plans to improve BP control, in English and Spanish.
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