Blacks tend to develop hypertension at an earlier age and suffer higher rates of illness and death than whites. To evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-managed telephone monitoring intervention in reducing blood pressure, researchers from Wayne State University randomized 387 black patients with hypertension to receive either a nurse-managed telephone monitoring intervention or enhanced usual care.

Participants in the intervention group (n = 194) met with specially trained nurses who assessed their blood pressure and provided counseling on lifestyle changes and medications. They were given a home monitor and instructed to measure their blood pressure three times per week and transmit their readings by telephone to the research center once per week. The nurses reviewed the data and called each participant to provide feedback, encouragement, and further counseling. The usual care group (n = 193) received visits to the patient's primary care provider (or referral to one if needed), assistance in obtaining low-cost medications, and a brochure on hypertension.

At the end of one year, both groups had lowered their blood pressure, but the intervention group achieved a significantly greater reduction (13 mmHg) in systolic blood pressure. According to lead author Nancy Artinian, "These are important results that could, if maintained over time, improve care and outcomes significantly" for black patients with hypertension. "There is hope," she says, "that in the future we can eliminate disparities" in the rates of illness and death caused by hypertension.