Faith Community Nursing: Faith Element Enhances Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Program Outcomes.

The high prevalence of hypertension among African Americans makes faith-based education programs culturally appropriate. Faith-enhanced health education is a way to reach these often healthcare-disenfranchised populations. With Every Heartbeat is Life (WEHL), a community-based heart health program, was enhanced with Scripture and prayer for this project. The program took place in an African American nondenominational church. The Scripture-enhanced WEHL program emphasized biblical teachings of self-care with standard lessons on nutrition, exercise, smoking cessation, and disease management interventions that increased knowledge of hypertension and associated cardiovascular risks.