Adoption of exercise and readiness to change differ between Whites and African-Americans with hypertension: a report from the Ohio State University Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network (OSU-PCPBRN).

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and disproportionately affects African-Americans. A cornerstone to treatment is nonpharmacologic lifestyle modifications. Despite such recommendations, many patients fail to exercise.
METHODS: An anonymous survey (n = 285) of hypertensive patients cared for at 2 offices within the Ohio State University Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network. Survey questions included demographics, recommendations for diet, and exercise lifestyle modification for reducing blood pressure. Questions were phrased as multiple choice or based on Prochaska and DiClemente's readiness to change model.
RESULTS: Of the 244 respondents, 57% were women and 43% were African-American. The income of African-Americans was significantly lower than that of whites. Exercise and increased fruit/vegetable consumption were the preferred lifestyle modifications and did not differ by race. Race and exercise were associated; a majority of whites were engaged in exercise whereas this was not so for African Americans.
CONCLUSIONS: Although exercise as a preferred lifestyle modification habit does not differ by race, implementation of such a behavior does. This may be related to differing income levels. When counseling patients, physicians must be prepared to ask what may hinder the adoption of such behavior and be prepared to offer possible solutions to overcoming such factors.