Clinician Counseling and Cultural Competency to Improve Hypertension Control and Therapy Adherence

To improve patients' adherence with prescribed anti-hypertensive medication, improve blood pressure control and doctor-patient communication, we propose a three-armed randomized controlled trial in the internal medicine clinics of a large metropolitan teaching hospital which serves a large percentage of poor African American and white patients. We will implement an intervention strategy by teaching clinicians to counsel patients about hypertension control through the use of patient-centered counseling and by providing office-based support; critical to facilitating clinicians' use of this strategy. Through this intervention we will provide clinicians with communication skills that are proven to help patients change risk-related behaviors, and which will enhance doctor-patient communication.