Ola Hou i ka Hula: Hula and Hypertension (Ola Hou)

Ola Hou i ka Hula: A Pilot Study to Investigate Hula and Hypertension Control

Physical activity is an important lifestyle modification for individuals with high blood pressure. It is part of national cardiac care guidelines for hypertension management that recommends, along with prescribing medication, lifestyle modification be promoted for improved dietary intake, and participation in about 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week. Native Hawaiians and other Pacific peoples (NHPP) have among the highest risk for the heart disease, with mortality rates twice other ethnic groups. In many minority populations, including NHPP, hypertension develops at an early age, is more severe and is less likely to be controlled. Despite the ability of physical activity to reduce blood pressure, the majority of U.S. population, do not meet physical activity recommendations and new interventions that can improve accessibility and adherence, particularly among at-risk minority populations are needed.

In this research, Hypertension and Hula: Ola Hou Pilot Study, we plan to evaluate a culturally relevant intervention that uses hula and is consistent with the goals of recommended physical activity for improved lifestyle - moderate-intensity, prolonged physical activity cumulatively at about 150 minutes per week. Hula, the traditional dance form of Native Hawaiians, is commonly practiced in Hawai'i as a cultural practice, form of creative expression, and exercise that is structured on controlled, rhythmic movements. Combining aspects of meditation, music, self-awareness with low-impact aerobic exercise, traditional hula may be particularly suitable to individuals with limited mobility and fitness and within the recommended paradigm for exercise training and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD). We anticipate a hula and heart health education program will be particularly appealing to Native Hawaiians and other Pacific people (NHPP) including Pacific Islanders and Filipino who suffer from a significant disparity in cardiovascular health.

Specifically, we will determine if individuals with poorly managed hypertension and randomized to a 12-week hula and heart health education intervention will demonstrate better blood pressure levels, functional capacity, and exercise tolerance (6-minute walk test) than individuals randomized to a usual care group. We will also assess if the individuals in the hula intervention report better health-related quality of life, stress management, perceptions of discrimination, and exercise self efficacy.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hypertension
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Hula and heart health education

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 59
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Hawaii
    • Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, 96813
      • University of Hawaii, John A Burns School of Medicine, Department of Native Hawaiian Health

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult (age > 18) with blood pressure >140/90 or >130/80 if also diagnosed with diabetes
• Under a physicians care for hypertension for at least 6 months
• Prescribed 2-3 hypertension medications
• Independently ambulatory
• Approval of participation from primary care physician or cardiologist

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prescribed more than 4, or only 1 hypertension medication
• Severe cognitive dysfunction precluding informed consent and understanding of hula
• Pregnancy at time or during the study period

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control group
Experimental: Hula and heart health education; 12 weeks of hula classes, 2 times a week for one hour. An additional 3 hours of heart health education was given to participants	Behavioral: Hula and heart health education

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Reduction of systolic blood pressure in hypertensive participants	3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Health-related quality of life	Additional surveys given to participants to measure psychosocial factors.	3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Hawaii

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Kaholokula JK, Look M, Mabellos T, Zhang G, de Silva M, Yoshimura S, Solatorio C, Wills T, Seto TB, Sinclair KA. Cultural Dance Program Improves Hypertension Management for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders: a Pilot Randomized Trial. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2017 Feb;4(1):35-46. doi: 10.1007/s40615-015-0198-4. Epub 2015 Dec 22.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: March 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 18, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 21, 2013
• First Posted (Estimate): November 27, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): November 27, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 21, 2013
• Last Verified: November 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Hypertension
• Other Study ID Numbers: Ola Hou i ka Hula