Some research provided robust analyses of the affected population s ’ health inequities and demonstrated how a task shifting intervention redressed those concerns .
Introduction Task shifting interventions have been implemented to improve health and address health inequities .
Little is known about how inequity and vulnerability are defined and measured in research on task shifting .
We conducted a systematic review to identify how inequity and vulnerability are identified , defined and measured in  task shifting research from high-income countries .
Health Coaching to Improve Hypertension Treatment in a Low-Income, Minority Population
PURPOSE Poor blood pressure control is common in the United States . We conducted a study to determine whether health coaching with home titration of antihypertensive medications can improve blood pressure control compared with health coaching alone in a low-income , predominantly minority population . METHODS We r and omized 237 patients with poorly controlled hypertension at a primary care clinic to receive either home blood pressure monitoring , weekly health coaching , and home titration of blood pressure medications if blood pressures were elevated ( n = 129 ) vs home blood pressure monitoring and health coaching but no home titration ( n = 108 ) . The primary outcome was change in systolic blood pressure from baseline to 6 months . RESULTS Both the home-titration arm and the no – home-titration arm had a reduction in systolic blood pressure , with no significant difference between them . When both arms were combined and analyzed as a before-after study , there was a mean decrease in systolic blood pressure of 21.8 mm Hg ( P < .001 ) as well as a decrease in the number of primary care visits from 3.5 in the 6 months before the study to 2.6 during the 6-month study period ( P < .001 ) and 2.4 in the 6 months after the study ( P < .001 ) . The more coaching encounters patients had , the greater their reduction in blood pressure . CONCLUSIONS Blood pressure control in a low-income , minority population can be improved by teaching patients to monitor their blood pressure at home and having nonprofessional health coaches assist patients , in particular , by counseling them on medication adherence . The improved blood pressure control can be achieved while reducing the time spent by physicians
Some research provided robust analyses of the affected population s ’ health inequities and demonstrated how a task shifting intervention redressed those concerns .
Introduction Task shifting interventions have been implemented to improve health and address health inequities .
Little is known about how inequity and vulnerability are defined and measured in research on task shifting .
We conducted a systematic review to identify how inequity and vulnerability are identified , defined and measured in  task shifting research from high-income countries .