Fighting the hidden menace: medical students take on the challenge of hypertension
By Communications
Hypertension – It’s a silent menace that is implicated in a variety of chronic diseases.
Often used interchangeably with "high blood pressure," it is a condition in which blood pressure measures consistently above normal within and outside the clinic environment. Hypertension affects one in four Canadian adults, and is among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. However, many Canadians, particularly those aged 20 to 39, remain unaware of their elevated blood pressure, highlighting a significant gap in public understanding of the condition.
A group of fourth-year medical students is tackling this medical challenge head on in the communities that are most in need. Through mentorship and feedback provided by Dr. Laura Diachun, a geriatrician at St. Joseph's Health Care London and Dr. Dorota Marczuk, a family physician working in London, these students have created critical tools that can be used to educate the people most at risk.
We caught up with Maud Ahmad, and fellow students Mashal Ahmed, Mateen Noori, Sherjeel Anwar and Javeria Hasan to find out more about the Hypertension Outreach and Prevention Education (HOPE) initiative.
From left: Mashal Ahmed, Mateen Noori, Maud Ahmad, Sherjeel Anwar, Javeria Hasan. (Supplied)
What is the initiative about and how does it work?
The HOPE Initiative aims to educate the public on the issue of hypertension, a silent condition implicated in a variety of chronic diseases. Our initiative involves medical students visiting community spaces to provide education about hypertension. Using blood pressure machines, we teach community members how to take proper blood pressure readings, inform them about the risks associated with hypertension, and emphasize lifestyle modifications for managing high blood pressure. We also distribute educational pamphlets. We’ve been to the YMCA in London a handful of times and recently we hosted a workshop on blood pressure at the London Muslim Mosque.
What are some of the reasons you chose to develop this particular initiative? What did you see that sparked the idea?
During my clerkship rotation in family medicine clinic, I conducted a quality improvement project on blood pressure control. Patients tracked their blood pressure for one week and completed a form assessing their understanding of hypertension risks and accurate measurement techniques. I found many lacked a good understanding of proper measurement techniques. This experience inspired me to advocate for better education around hypertension prevention and management.
What funding did you receive and how will it contribute to supporting this work?
We received the Ontario Medical Student Association (OMSA) Innovator grant, which has been instrumental in supporting our work. The funding has enabled us to create and distribute educational pamphlets, purchase blood pressure cuffs, and facilitate our outreach events at various community locations.
What are some of the outcomes of the project?
Our peer-reviewed "Hypertension 101" brochure was published by Hypertension Canada, which is available on their website as a free public resource. We have engaged with more than 100 people in London through our outreach events, providing blood pressure screenings and education. Additionally, we have sent our brochures to family physicians in the London area to share with their patients. We hope to continue meeting community members through visiting more community spaces.
Many people face the challenge of not having a family doctor. How does this initiative help with that issue?
Our initiative helps by providing immediate access to blood pressure screenings and education for individuals who may not have a family doctor. By raising awareness about hypertension and its management, we empower community members to take control of their health and seek medical advice when needed. This can help mitigate the risks associated with undiagnosed hypertension, even in the absence of a regular health-care provider.
What lessons have you learned in this project?
We have learned the importance of community engagement and the value of providing accessible health education. People want to be in good health, but due to circumstance and limited resources it is easy for them to fall through the cracks, highlighting the urgent need for initiatives like ours to fill these gaps.
How will this project affect your career direction?
This project has reinforced our commitment to community health and preventive medicine. It has shown me the impact that targeted health education can have on public health outcomes. This initiative has fortified the importance of community outreach and education in how to approach medicine.
