Mi Propio Camino
(My Own Path)

Personalized approaches to improve blood pressure control

Latinx adults with hypertension in the U.S are much more likely to have uncontrolled blood pressure than others, but are much less likely to be taking guideline medications. 

Research shows that many patients from low-income and ethnic minority backgrounds have unfavorable beliefs about medications (such as concerns about safety or effectiveness) and are less likely to adhere to their medication treatment or start a new medication as a result. In addition, few patients discuss these beliefs with their providers which may result in reluctance to take their medication.

We hypothesize that patients who see for themselves what strategies work best and feel best for them, and who discuss their experiences with their peers and their doctors, will be more successful addressing concerns and engendering mutual trust than those we simply educate about hypertension risks and recommendations. Through this approach, we hope to see more patients find their own path to incorporate evidence-based medications alongside lifestyle change to control blood pressure.

2024 Impact Report

Analysis of the research results of the trial are underway, and will be published in this space. But in addition to our research goals, we designed the project to have direct and immediate benefit to the clinic, our patients and our students.

Take a look at our 2024 Impact Report to see where the Mi Propio Camino study impacted our community!

Finding your path to blood pressure control

Mi Propio Camino (MPC) invites patients to participate in group medical visits where we introduce an array of different integrative and lifestyle regimens to complement, but not replace medication, and then to track their own blood pressure changes at home to reflect on what works best for them.  Through this approach, we hope to see more patients find “my own path” to control their blood pressure.

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Study Aim 1: To investigate perceptions patients may have about controlling blood pressure, concerns patients may have about taking medications, and experiences discussing concerns about medications with health providers.

Study Aim 2: To evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally appropriate intervention in a randomized controlled trial comparing two sets of group education sessions that differ in the focus on addressing negative beliefs about medications and through emplying mHealth.

 
 
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Cross Sectional Study

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Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

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Timeline

Cross sectional observational study approach examining topics including concerns patients have about taking medications, perceptions about controlling blood pressure, and experiences discussing concerns about medications with health providers. Completed through conducting a 30-45 min questionnaire.

Randomized controlled trial evaluating a culturally appropriate intervention to improve adherence to anti hypertensive medications.

Participants will be enrolled in one of two versions of in-person, group health education classes, offered in Spanish and English, to compare their impact on blood pressure management

Collecting outcomes data on medication adherence and blood pressure control at 1 month and 6 month follow up

Four year randomized controlled trial (RCT)

Collecting questionnaire and health record data on up to 1000 Latinx patients with uncontrolled hypertension

500 of these participants will be enrolled in the RCT

Ongoing Patient Advisory Group meetings to guide study implementation, interpretation and dissemination

 
 
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MPC students have the opportunity to learn and conduct community based participatory research first hand through:

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  • One-on-one patient interaction through patient recruitment at the UCI Family Health Center in Santa Ana.

  • Entails approaching and administering questionnaires to patients centered around blood pressure (BP), beliefs about medication and social determinants of health all within the clinic flow.

  • Supporting with study intervention sessions composed of group education on high blood pressure.

  • Opportunity to guide groups of patients in healthy lifestyle habits, home monitoring, participate in interactive activities, learn more about blood pressure, food demonstrations and more

  • Learn about the clinic setting, work flow and get to work among healthcare professionals

  • Presenting what we learn from study components through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) and national conferences.

 
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Material Need Insecurity and Its Concurrent Barriers to Diabetes Management Among Low-Income Latino Adults Receiving Medical Care

Mullin B, Cervantes BS, Billimek J

 
 

Economic Instability and Readiness for Behavior Change Among Latinx Hypertensive Patients

Chaulagain, Abhiruchi UCI

School of Medicine, Health Policy Research Institute John Billimek, PhD

Excellence in Research 2020

 
 
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Increased Hesitancy to Take Medications During Periods of Food Insecurity among Latinx Patients with Hypertension: Findings from the Mi Propio Camino study

Karina Fing, Brett Cervantes, Adriana Orellana, Sergio Gago-Masague PhD, Dara Sorkin PhD, David Kilgore MD, John Billimek PhD

Poster presented at the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) Annual National Conference, March 2021

 

Disparities in the Timing of Diabetes Treatment Intensification in Response to Poor Glycemic Control

Yang S, Billimek J

Poster presented at the AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting, Washington DC. June 2019

 

Relationship between Economic Instability and Readiness for Behavior Change Among Latinx Hypertensive Patients

Chaulagain, A., Fing-Castro, K., Salazar, A., Cervantes, B., Gago-Masague, S., Sorkin, D., Kilgore, D., Billimek, J

Poster presented virtually at the Society for Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting, San Francisco CA. April 2020.

 

Examining the impact of medication beliefs on medication adherence among hypertensive patients

Ordonez E, Cha J, Xu M, Billimek J

Podium presentation at 44th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference, San Diego CA. April 2019.

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Project PI - John Billimek, PhD

Co-Investigator - David Kilgore, MD

Co-Investigator - Dara Sorkin, PhD

Co-Investigator - Sergio Gago-Masague, PhD

Co-Investigator and Biostatistician - Tuyen Hoang, PhD

Project Director - Tanya Honey

Field Coordinator - Adriana Orellana-Barrientos

 

This project is supported by the NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), grant number R01HL142964 February 1st, 2020 - January 31st, 2024