Utilizing the Sodium Tracker App Preset to 1,500 mg for Hypertension Prevention in Black Church Members

¹Lewis University, One University Parkway Romeoville, USA

²Project's Faculty Advisor & Editor at Lewis University, Romeoville, Illinois, USA

*Corresponding author: Mrs. Cindy Sharp, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, RN, Lewis University, One University Parkway Romeoville, IL. 60446, USA, Email: [email protected]

Received Date: October 28, 2025

Published Date: April 20, 2026

Citation: Sharp C, et al. (2026). Utilizing the Sodium Tracker App Preset to 1,500 mg for Hypertension Prevention in Black Church Members. Mathews J Nurs. 8(1):65.

Copyrights: Sharp C, et al. © (2026).

ABSTRACT

Background: Excess sodium intake is strongly associated with the development of hypertension and remains a modifiable risk factor for its prevention. Despite this, dietary strategies that specifically monitor sodium intake are underutilized in both clinical and community settings. Objective: This quality improvement project aimed to educate Black American church members from two small congregations on monitoring sodium consumption by using the My DASH Diet Sodium Tracker App on smartphone devices. Educational sessions were supplemented with DASH diet resources, culturally relevant low-sodium recipes, nutrition label education, and videos addressing the health consequences of excessive sodium intake. Methods: A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) translated a quality improvement project design where pre- and post-intervention surveys were administered to the participants. Thirty participants (N = 30) were recruited through purposive sampling from two small churches in the northwest suburbs of Illinois. Participants received training on the App usage and on adherence to a daily sodium intake of 1,500 mg over a 30-day period. Results: Participants from the first church (n = 25) demonstrated significantly greater adherence to sodium tracking, with paired sample t-test results showing a statistically significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (p < .001; 95% CI: 5.262–8.814). For the second church (n = 5), correlation analysis revealed a strong positive relationship (r = 0.9198) between intervention participation and systolic blood pressure improvement. Conclusion: Monitoring sodium intake by using a smartphone application, combined with targeted education, is a feasible, low-cost nursing intervention that can effectively reduce blood pressure in Black American church communities.

Keywords: Black Americans, Churches, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Health Interventions, Hypertension, Smartphone Health Apps, Sodium Intake.