Faith and fitness: church program tackles high blood pressure
NCT ID NCT05220332
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests a 6-month church-based program to help African Americans with uncontrolled high blood pressure. The program includes Bible study sessions led by the pastor and small group meetings focused on diet and exercise. A community health worker provides extra support if needed. The goal is to see if this approach can lower blood pressure and improve medication adherence.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- behavioral intervention (Bible study, group sessions, community health worker support)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a practical, community-based way to help African Americans with high blood pressure improve their health.
- What could go wrong
- This is a behavioral study, not a drug trial, so results may vary. It's also limited to church members, so it may not work for everyone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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219 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2022
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Churches: * At least 75 members and ability to recruit 15 study participants * Predominantly African American congregants Participants: * Age 18 or older * Has blood pressure readings with uncontrolled blood pressure, defined as exceeding the blood thresholds for initiation of antihypertensive medication according to the 2017 American College of Cardiology/ American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines. \- The thresholds are 140/90 for the general population \< 65 years old, and 130/80 for individuals ≥ 65 or with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or high cardiovascular risk (self-report of prior diagnosis of myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, stroke or heart failure) * Attends church (virtually or in-person) at least once per month * Able to attend weekly Zoom meetings * Consents and completes all baseline assessments Exclusion Criteria: Churches: • Pastor unwilling to conduct Bible study Participants: * Unable to make dietary changes due to lack of control over their food source (i.e., eat meals at shelter, nursing home) * Has a medical condition that prohibits or severely restricts ability to eat vegetables (i.e., renal disease, Crohn's disease) * Has a medical condition with an uncertain 6-month prognosis * Inability to give informed consent (i.e., cognitive impairment, does not speak Englis * Plans to move within the 6 months following enrollment * Participated in prior ALIVE intervention * Member of household participating in another church
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois, 60422, United States
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