Advisory Committee Chair
Meredith Kilgore
Advisory Committee Members
Nir Menachemi
Stephen Mennemeyer
Robert Weech-Maldonado
Paul Muntner
Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2015
Degree Name by School
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) School of Public Health
Abstract
This dissertation focuses on the potential benefits of hypertension (HTN) treatment for the general population and African Americans (AAs) specifically. We undertake three research projects that are interconnected. First, using a systematic review methodology we assess the current state of the cost-effectiveness of HTN treatment literature in order to identify potential gaps in the cost-effectiveness literature, methodological shortcomings, and provide policy makers and researchers with a summary of the current findings as well as methods used in the literature. Second, building off our findings in paper 1, we construct a cost-effectiveness model. We assess the cost-effectiveness of HTN treatment not only for the general population, but also specifically for AAs. We use new model inputs from literature sources and secondary data analysis of the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study to account for racial differences in treatment and outcomes of HTN. Finally, patient satisfaction has been shown to be positively associated with medication adherence, therefore, in our third paper, we explore a new pathway for differences in HTN outcomes between whites and AAs: differences in patient satisfaction between hospitals that disproportionately serve minorities and their hospital counterparts.
Recommended Citation
Tajeu, Gabriel Saidimu, "Cost Effectiveness Of Hypertension Treatment: New Model, Methods, And Focus On African Americans" (2015). All ETDs from UAB. 3094.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/3094
