A research review: involving the African American family in anti-hypertensive medication management.

Research about the role of the family in helping hypertensive individuals manage hypertension using medications is limited. The African American family should be included in whatever future hypertension management research takes place. This review focuses on research conducted using adults and minors as study participants. Theoretical issues about the use of anti-hypertensive medications among hypertensive individuals are presented. Definitions about adherence are critiqued, and future research directions are explored.