Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Project
College/School
College of Nursing
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Project Mentor
Heather Balser
Readers
Erika Boyd
Abstract
Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States, disproportionately affecting low-income and marginalized populations. Blood pressure self-monitoring (BPSM) has emerged as a promising intervention to support management of HDP. This study evaluated the impact of a BPSM program on self-efficacy and health literacy among low-income, first-time pregnant and ostpartum individuals enrolled in Snohomish County’s Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program.
Methods: This qualitative program evaluation involved semi-structured interviews with 10 participants enrolled in the BPSM program. Interviews were conducted via secure video conferencing, transcribed, and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis supported by AI-assisted coding. Themes were developed through iterative review and comparison of manual and AI-generated codes.
Results: Four key themes emerged: (1) increased confidence in health care decision-making, (2) integration of health behaviors into daily life, (3) empowered understanding of health, and (4) improved communication with health care teams. The intervention fostered routine health behaviors and enhanced participants’ ability to understand and act on health information, including using health data to guide clinical conversations and influence care decisions.
Conclusions: The BPSM intervention enhanced participants perceived self-efficacy and health literacy, two critical factors in improving maternal health outcomes. These findings support the integration of BPSM into home-visiting programs like NFP, particularly for populations at elevated risk for HDP. By promoting autonomy and informed decision-making, BPSM mayserve as a valuable tool in reducing disparities in maternal health. Further research is recommended to explore long-term impacts and address barriers to implementation.
Recommended Citation
Soo, Sherilynn and Powicki, Antonia, "Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Intervention among Low-Income Pregnant and Postpartum Individuals in Nurse-Family Partnership: A Qualitative Program Evaluation Assessing Self-Efficacy and Health Literacy" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 141.
https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/dnp-projects/141