Understanding African-American participation in a behavioral intervention: results from focus groups.

摘要: Heart failure (HF) is an increasingly prevalent condition contributing to significant morbidity and mortality among African-Americans. The Failure Adherence Retention Trial (HART) the largest NHLBI funded behavioral clinical trial of patients with HF (R01 HL65547). HART has recruited approximately 40% minority participants, 33% being African-American. purpose this qualitative study conduct in-depth examination subjective experience African-American participants in intervention arm HART. Five focus groups were conducted a total 25 participants. mean age those attending was 55 years, range between 39 82 52% female, 92% Participants gained overall general medical knowledge about how influenced their own lives. appeared not only understand self-management skills that taught; but also apply them. They demonstrated understanding connection lifestyle HF. Factors may promote retention include mutual support, opportunity engage meaningful social activity, feeling cared for. limit anxiety denial logistical emotional barriers groups. unclear effects on remuneration, ethnicity group leader, role religious or spiritual content meetings. While number perceived benefits exist participation, there are retention. Ongoing attention cultural sensitivity likely factor successful