Nutrition-Based Strategies for Hypertension Management in a Free Clinic Setting

Academic Mentor | Manabu (Mani) Nakamura
Community Partner | Avicenna Community Health Center

Project Description
Hypertension is a highly prevalent and often poorly controlled chronic condition and a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and chronic kidney disease, particularly among underserved populations. Prior work with patients at Avicenna Community Health Center revealed an alarmingly high prevalence of hypertension, underscoring the need for effective, accessible management strategies. While clinical guidelines emphasize dietary and lifestyle modification as first-line approaches to hypertension management, structured, evidence-based nutrition interventions are rarely available in free clinic settings.

This project will test the feasibility and effectiveness of a newly developed dietary and lifestyle intervention designed to reduce blood pressure among adults receiving care at Avicenna Community Health Center. The 12-week pilot study will include adults with a diagnosis of hypertension and will combine nutrition education focused on sodium reduction, increased potassium intake, and overall dietary quality with physical activity encouragement and individualized behavioral support.

Participants will complete regular dietary assessments, attend monthly clinic visits for blood pressure measurement and cooking classes, and engage in monthly remote sessions with a nutrition coach. Changes in blood pressure and dietary intake will be evaluated to assess the potential for implementing evidence-based dietary interventions for hypertension management in free clinic environments.

Role of the Community-Academic Scholar
The Community-Academic Scholar will be involved in multiple stages of this clinic-based intervention study under close supervision from the academic research team. During the intervention phase, the scholar will support study coordination activities, including tracking completion of dietary assessments, preparing participant feedback materials, and assisting with monthly intervention activities.

The scholar will have direct, structured interaction with study participants approximately once per month. These interactions may include sending reminders, assisting participants with dietary assessment tools, and supporting scheduled education or coaching sessions in coordination with clinic staff. All participant contact will follow approved research protocols to ensure confidentiality and participant comfort.

In addition, the scholar will support data collection and analysis by organizing and cleaning dietary and blood pressure data, conducting preliminary descriptive analyses, and assisting with data summaries. The scholar will also contribute to literature reviews and support preparation of reports and dissemination materials. This role provides hands-on experience in community-engaged research, nutrition-focused interventions, and ethical research practices while addressing hypertension in an underserved population.