Text Messaging and Video Stories to Support Hypertension Self-Management in Black Veterans

Can a narrative-informed texting intervention improve blood pressure and hypertension self-management for Black veterans?In a randomized clinical trial including 600 Black veterans with hypertension, there was no significant difference in systolic and diastolic blood pressure change between the intervention (ie, video stories plus narrative, educational, and bidirectional text messages) and control (ie, bidirectional text messages alone) groups. Veterans described text messages as helpful motivators for improving health.In this trial, an enhanced texting intervention with video storytellers and narrative messages did not improve blood pressure compared with bidirectional text messaging alone, but it supported engagement and motivation for Black veterans.

Corresponding Author: Sarah L. Cutrona, MD, MPH, VA Center for Health Optimization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), Bedford VA Medical Center, 200 Springs Road, Bldg 70 Room 280, Bedford, MA 01730 (sarah.cutrona@va.gov).

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