This paper measures the degree of medical literacy in Robeson County and to better improve the understanding of various cardiovascular ailments. This will be done through numerous Heart Health Literacy Tables held at a local venue, Golden Corral (Lumberton, NC). Blood pressures will be administered on-site for willing participants, American Heart Association literature will be provided and explained, and comparisons will be drawn between the data collected and national values. Trends were seen, such as a greater participation of women, a higher incidence of hypertension in African Americans than other ethnicities (in contrast to their population sizes), and an upward trend in participation with respect to age. Overall, results corresponded nicely with national averages, with the exception that we had a larger percentage of Native American volunteers. This can be attributed to the proximity of the literacy table venue to the Lumbee Tribe population (Pembroke, NC). Strategies for improved methodology in communicating with patients, bridging the literacy gap, and blood pressure measurements are given as well
