Efficient Self-management of Chronic Disease Using Health Information Technology - a Study on Hypertension

Overview

Background: Hypertension is an increasing global problem and measures are needed against the emerging hypertensive burden. Management of the risk factor hypertension consists of medical treatment in conjunction with lifestyle adjustment, whereby lifestyle adjustment is the preventive cornerstone but has also been proven to contribute to BP reduction among those already receiving medical drug treatments. Non-adherence is a significant barrier to successful hypertension management. Goal: To improve management of hypertension in daily life from a person-centred perspective, utilizing information and communication technology, and further to decrease complications of hypertension. To increase the proportion of persons with hypertension obtaining a BP goal =\<140/90 mmHg and to conduct a health economic evaluation of our intervention. Plan: The investigators will conduct a multi-centre randomized controlled trial in 36 primary care centres in three counties in Sweden. There will be approximaely 430 patients in each group. BP will be measured in a standardized manner, laboratory tests taken and questionnaires answered at baseline, after eight weeks and after a year in both the intervention and the control group. Register data on health care resource one year before baseline and for the full study period will be retrieved for participants in both study groups. Singificance: The intervention is expected to improve adherence to treatment and a significant lowering of the blood pressure. Hospitalization rates are lower among persons with hypertension that adheres to their medication. By improving treatment of hypertension the hope is to decrease complications and morbidity due to hypertension and thereby hospitalization and health care costs. Due to the generic nature of the technology involved, the self-management system can easily be adapted to monitor other chronic conditions.