Barbershop-Facilitated Community-to-Clinic Linkage Implementation Program (CLIP)

The Community-to-Clinic Linkage Implementation Program (CLIP) is a key initiative within the American Heart Association’s RESTORE (Addressing Social Determinants to Prevent Hypertension) Health Equity Research Network. Led by Dr. Joseph Ravenell at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, CLIP aims to reduce hypertension among Black men by bridging trusted community spaces with clinical care access. CLIP is designed as a randomized trial to address racial inequities by translating proven hypertension interventions into community settings. The study recruited from 22 barbershops on the North Shore of Staten Island, NY, serving Black men with elevated blood pressure (BP) or Stage 1 hypertension. The trial compares a Barbershop-based Facilitation (BF) strategy to a self-directed control group on key outcomes, including BP reduction, hypertension prevention, linkage to care, and program adoption over 12 months. Approximately 11 barbershops and 210 participants are randomized to each group. It is hypothesized that men in barbershops assigned to the BF strategy will demonstrate greater BP reduction, improved linkage to care, and lower rates of incident hypertension compared to those in the self-directed group. By engaging barbershops as trusted community anchors, CLIP aims to eliminate disparities in hypertension management and strengthen clinic-community linkages. Recruitment concluded in March 2024, with a total of 420 participants enrolled. The trial is currently in its follow-up phase, during which the primary outcomes are being assessed. A post-implementation evaluation will follow to examine the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of the intervention.