Changing the social geography of health learning: How, with whom and where

High blood pressure (HBP) remains a challenge for many throughout the lifespan. This pilot program paired older adults and youth in a way that changed the social learning environment.  Over 200 Middle-school students and older adults (ages 50+) from five metropolitan areas in the USA worked together on cooperative learning activities such as taking blood pressure measurements, reading food labels, and writing behavioral change goals. The two-hour public school-based small group sessions changed the how, with whom and where of high blood pressure and healthy lifestyle learning among participants. Sessions were led by an adult volunteer who divided youth and adults into pairs or triads to work together on discussions, worksheets, and measuring weights, heights, and blood pressures.  Knowledge, beliefs and self-efficacy were measured before and after the session using standardized scales tailored to the population. Results showed that learning in pairs significantly increased health knowledge and self-efficacy. The largest gain in knowledge was understanding what high blood pressure is for both older adults and youth (p<.05); for adults, the second largest gain was understanding risk factors and followed by how to treat HBP (p<.05); for youth, the second largest gain was how to prevent HBP (p<.05). Self-efficacy of preventing HBP and managing healthy lifestyle increased significantly in both populations (p<.05), but increased more in older adults than in youth. This suggests that changes in how, with whom and where health learning takes place present a promising tool for high blood pressure education in low SES youth and older populations.