COMMUNITY PANEL DISCUSSIONS - FROM RESEARCH TO COMMUNITY-ACTION

HYPERTENSION AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE are increasing among minoritie s. Participants at the workshop on the Epidemiology of Hypertension in Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Asian/Pacific islander Amer icans voiced a need to intensify a systemic approach for community-bas ed strategies to guide prevention, treatment, and control. To answer t his need, a panel addressed recommended community-based strategies fro m inclusion of community members in the research process to implementa tion and application of findings for community action. Recommended str ategies include encouraging close cooperation and data sharing between investigators and community groups; including differences in culture, heritage, and local influences in hypertension research; training and working with minority researchers and health care professionals; and intensifying comprehensive and culturally appropriate education progra ms that focus on prevention, treatment, and control of hypertension. T his article contains a summary of key areas of emphasis, as well as im plementation strategies to decrease hypertension and other cardiovascu lar diseases in specific ethnic groups.