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Barbershop Blood Pressure Programs (BARBER-1 and Los Angeles trial)

Also: BARBER-1 · Los Angeles Barbershop Blood Pressure Study

Cluster-randomised trials led by Ronald Victor in Black-owned barbershops: in Dallas County (BARBER-1, 2006-2008) barbers offered blood pressure checks with haircuts and urged men to see a doctor using peer messages; in Los Angeles (published 2018) barbers sent patrons to pharmacists who met them in the shop and prescribed medication.

Years
2006
Country
United States
Topic
Blood pressureCardiovascular
Asks people to
Seek help
Strategy
TestimonialTrusted messenger
Channel
InterpersonalPoint of sale
Audience
AdultsMen
Non-Hispanic Black men who are barbershop patrons.

Evidence

ExperimentalPositive

BARBER-1 (17 Dallas shops): hypertension control rose 8.8 percentage points more in intervention shops (95% CI 0.8-16.9); systolic difference -2.5 mmHg, marginal (Victor et al. 2011). Los Angeles (52 shops, 319 men): systolic pressure fell 27.0 mmHg with barber-plus-pharmacist vs 9.3 mmHg with barber-promoted lifestyle and doctor visits; 63.6% vs 11.7% reached <130/80 (Victor et al. 2018).

Sponsor (who paid)

  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (BARBER-1) Academic, lead
  • Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Smidt Heart Institute (Los Angeles trial) Academic, lead
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Federal government, funder

Credits (who made it)

  • Ronald G. Victor Individual

Sources

  1. Victor RG et al. Effectiveness of a barber-based intervention for improving hypertension control in black men: the BARBER-1 study. Arch Intern Med 2011;171:342-50 evaluation · 2011 · DOI 10.1001/archinternmed.2010.390 · PMID 20975012
  2. Victor RG et al. A Cluster-Randomized Trial of Blood-Pressure Reduction in Black Barbershops. N Engl J Med 2018;378:1291-1301 evaluation · 2018 · DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa1717250 · PMID 29527973

Research notes

These are research trials, not mass-media campaigns; the communication element is barber peer messaging (BARBER-1 used 'sex-specific peer-based health messaging', hence 'testimonial' tentatively). The LA trial's effect is mostly the pharmacist prescribing, not messaging. 'point-of-sale' is the nearest channel value for a barbershop. BARBER-1 registered NCT00325533; LA trial NCT02321618. LA trial dates not confirmed, so no end year. Funding per PubMed grant lists (NHLBI, plus NCATS for LA).

Record cases/barbershop-blood-pressure-trials.json, updated 2026-10-23· Link to this campaign