TY - JOUR
T1 - Brief Risk Communication for Emergency Department Patients With Sustained Asymptomatic Hypertension
AU - Souffront, Kimberly
AU - Shubeck, Claire
AU - Nelson, Bret P.
AU - Lukas, Megan
AU - Gordon, Lauren
AU - Reyes Garay, Hans
AU - Barreto, Lucio
AU - Caceres, Ashley
AU - Sgambellone, Olivia
AU - Wilder, Marcee
AU - Degtyar, Aleksandra
AU - Loo, George T.
AU - Richardson, Lynne D.
AU - Coleman, Bernice
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Emergency Nurses Association
PY - 2025/1
Y1 - 2025/1
N2 - Introduction: Sustained asymptomatic hypertension in ED patients is a powerful predictor of chronic uncontrolled hypertension. In this study, we assess the feasibility of using a storyboard video and communicating real-time cardiovascular imaging results on blood pressure control and primary care engagement. Methods: This was a prospective observational exploratory sub-study. Following Institutional Review Board approval (#18-00197), 20 English-speaking adults in an urban emergency department with an initial blood pressure ≥160/100 mm Hg and a second blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg were enrolled. Patients watched a 60-second storyboard video about uncontrolled hypertension in the ED setting, featuring racially and ethnically diverse avatars. They then received a real-time bedside echocardiogram. Emergency nurses communicated the echocardiogram results using a standard script and advised follow-up within 2 weeks after discharge. Patient characteristics, blood pressure control, primary care engagement, and acceptability of the intervention were assessed at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks post-discharge. Results: All 20 enrolled patients (mean age 55, 70% female, and 95% from underrepresented groups [30% Black, 50% Hispanic, and 15% Black and Hispanic]) exhibited subclinical heart disease on echocardiograms. Blood pressure control improved from baseline (systolic 166 mm Hg, diastolic 97 mm Hg) to 24 weeks (systolic 137 mm Hg, diastolic 78 mm Hg). Seventy percent of patients engaged with primary care post-discharge, and the intervention had high acceptability (94.8% approval). Discussion: The Brief Risk Communication for ED patients with sustained asymptomatic hypertension study demonstrates the feasibility and acceptability of using a brief video and real-time cardiovascular imaging for risk communication in the emergency department. Future research will build on these findings with a larger, more comprehensive study.
AB - Introduction: Sustained asymptomatic hypertension in ED patients is a powerful predictor of chronic uncontrolled hypertension. In this study, we assess the feasibility of using a storyboard video and communicating real-time cardiovascular imaging results on blood pressure control and primary care engagement. Methods: This was a prospective observational exploratory sub-study. Following Institutional Review Board approval (#18-00197), 20 English-speaking adults in an urban emergency department with an initial blood pressure ≥160/100 mm Hg and a second blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg were enrolled. Patients watched a 60-second storyboard video about uncontrolled hypertension in the ED setting, featuring racially and ethnically diverse avatars. They then received a real-time bedside echocardiogram. Emergency nurses communicated the echocardiogram results using a standard script and advised follow-up within 2 weeks after discharge. Patient characteristics, blood pressure control, primary care engagement, and acceptability of the intervention were assessed at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks post-discharge. Results: All 20 enrolled patients (mean age 55, 70% female, and 95% from underrepresented groups [30% Black, 50% Hispanic, and 15% Black and Hispanic]) exhibited subclinical heart disease on echocardiograms. Blood pressure control improved from baseline (systolic 166 mm Hg, diastolic 97 mm Hg) to 24 weeks (systolic 137 mm Hg, diastolic 78 mm Hg). Seventy percent of patients engaged with primary care post-discharge, and the intervention had high acceptability (94.8% approval). Discussion: The Brief Risk Communication for ED patients with sustained asymptomatic hypertension study demonstrates the feasibility and acceptability of using a brief video and real-time cardiovascular imaging for risk communication in the emergency department. Future research will build on these findings with a larger, more comprehensive study.
KW - Asymptomatic hypertension
KW - Feasibility study
KW - Nurse-led intervention
KW - Risk communication
KW - Subclinical heart disease
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85204808785&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jen.2024.08.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jen.2024.08.001
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85204808785
SN - 0099-1767
VL - 51
SP - 96
EP - 104
JO - Journal of Emergency Nursing
JF - Journal of Emergency Nursing
IS - 1
ER -