Research Projects 

LA-CEAL is a National Institutes of Health-funded initiative awarded to Tulane University School of Medicine that aims to address health disparities related to the pandemic. In the last five years LA-CEAL has provided multiple studies to help the state of Louisiana

This study focuses on Testing the efficacy of the Supporting Tailored Adaptive change and Reinforcement for Medication Adherence Program (STAR-MAP), a health coaching approach that aims to improve antihypertensive medication adherence, blood pressure control, and quality of life. Participants (n=402) > =50 years old with a diagnosis of hypertension, uncontrolled blood pressure, and low antihypertensive medication adherence will be recruited through a statewide health insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, and randomized to receive either interactive health coaching sessions with medication reminder tools (intervention) or medication reminder tools only (control) over one year. Data will be collected from participants at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months using questionnaires, physical measurement (height, weight, blood pressure), a computer-based, single- category implicit association test, and laboratory analysis of antihypertensive medication urinary metabolites.