Focus Group Findings
The comments from both focus groups were highly consistent. In general, the participants liked the "Mission Possible" materials and were pleased that the NHLBI is trying to bring HBP prevention and control back to the forefront. They also expressed the hope that the NHLBI would use the findings from the evaluation to revise and expand the "Mission Possible" initiative and re-release it as part of a broader campaign.
Following are other findings from the 2 groups.
- In general, the states liked the materials and found them helpful. Some used them to try to generate new partnerships, and a few were successful in "bringing new groups to the table." Others shared the materials with existing partners, and some used them simply to support ongoing efforts.
- By and large, the states distributed the materials to regional and county health department partners, which, in turn, used the materials themselves and/or forwarded them to other local partners, including hospitals and clinics, schools, senior centers, refugee centers, faith-based organizations, work sites, primary care practices, emergency medical service groups, state health benefit plans, and disease-related organizations, such as diabetes, kidney failure, and cancer groups. Most of these groups targeted low-SES and minority populations.
Examples of ways in which the materials were used include:
- Distributed at special screenings for rural communities, employees, seniors, and public housing complexes
- Distributed to senior centers and Vo-tech areas to train certified nurses' aides who work in nursing homes and doctor's offices to take blood pressures accurately.
- Partnered with EMS and schools in rural area to train high school students in community engagement, using them to communicate with their families and trying to nurture interest in health professions
- Included in turn-key kits for Month
- Used in CMEs, especially for nurses
- Shared with potential members of state-wide coalitions and task forces
- Many states used the Call to Action paper, and two found it especially useful in attracting a couple of new potential partners. Most distributed it extensively to existing partners and saw it as a good leave-behind piece, especially for non-medical social service agencies.
A number of states, however, had some questions about it - for example,
- The appropriateness of the literacy level for different audiences
- The length
- The lack of photos of Native and Asian Americans
- Its ability to stand alone
Some states also said they had their own Call to Action statements.
- Some states had suggestions for making the publication more useful. In general, they recommended that it be pared down to single-page documents targeted to different audience segments and focused more heavily on the potential for cost savings in high blood pressure prevention and control.
- Several states successfully used the partner sheets as supplemental materials to the Call to Action paper, but others expressed concerns about different aspects of their design and, especially, about the fact that they could not stand alone as information pieces.
Some states also complained that there were too many pieces in the overall package.
- By and large, all states liked the fact sheets, especially the DASH, physical activity, and patient-oriented pieces, and many would like more copies of these, especially if they're still free. They thought the pieces were upbeat and provided useful information.
However, many thought the reading level was too high for their public audiences. This was especially true of the Spanish pieces. Several states reported that their Latino partners would not take the materials because of the high reading level. Some referred to them as "medical translations."
Other comments included:
- Too much text
- Need higher resolution downloadables
- Would like gray scale originals for copying
- Would like them in more languages
- Physician piece needs to focus more on interacting with their patients
- Patient piece should be offered to physicians in prescription pad format so they can give to their patients
- Images too healthy-looking
- DASH piece needs to focus more on fruits and vegetables and other healthy food groups, as well as sodium reduction
Summary
Virtually all of the states appreciated receiving the materials and hoped that the NHLBI would use the results from the focus groups and assessment to pare down the package, revise individual pieces, and re-release them as part of a broader national education and awareness initiative.
The idea of a national media campaign at the center of the initiative was raised numerous times-both in the focus groups and in individual discussions over the three days of the meeting. There was a strong feeling that Mission Possible needs to be part of a bigger and bolder blood pressure initiative, including a media campaign.
Next Steps
The Healthy People 2010 Partnership Team is developing a strategy for a Phase 2 project that may include a highly-targeted national campaign.
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