A pilot cluster randomized control trial to test the feasibility of a multilevel, nurse-led, mobile health enhanced intervention in patients with uncontrolled hypertension in Ghana
This is a two-arm pilot cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 240 participants with uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) with the healthcare setting as the unit of randomization and patients as the unit of analysis. Each of the four healthcare settings will be recruited and randomly assigned to the multilevel intervention or control group. A statistician will generate the randomization using a computer-generated random sequence program with an allocation ratio of 1:1 and a block size of 6 (to assure equal numbers in each arm). After having met study criteria for enrollment, 60 eligible patients for each setting will be assigned to either control or intervention arm according to the patients' healthcare setting's intervention assignment by the study coordinator. A cluster RCT has been chosen to avoid potential treatment contamination in which physicians within healthcare settings might unintentionally provide patients with different degrees of attention or blending of treatment protocols. The intervention will be administered for six months following which it will be withdrawn, and patients will be followed for six more months to assess outcomes. The investigators will use quota sampling to over sample socioeconomically deprived persons to ensure that socioeconomically deprived persons comprise 50% of the sample. Poverty will be defined by (1) Household income, based on Ghana minimum monthly wage of 210 Ghana cedis (equivalent of $55). After screening eligible participants, the investigators will assign four clusters of 60 patients to the intervention or control arms. The investigators will require 30 patients in each cluster to be male and 30 to be female since in the investigators' previous work, men have been underrepresented potentially due to gender-differences in healthcare seeking behaviors. Men have also had inferior treatment and control rates in previous studies.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
240
Medtronic® Labs' Akoma pa app, a culturally-tested and locally attuned mobile health platform, will be used in the intervention arm of the study to improve communication between the Community Health Officer (CHO) and the participant. This platform will be used to enhance shared decision making, clinical decision support, participatory communication, knowledge, treatment adherence (medication and lifestyle modification), and self-monitoring of hypertension. We will test the feasibility of the Akoma pa app in addressing patient-level and provider-level barriers to hypertension control. The app will consist of the following components: 1. Reminders 2. Participant to CHO messaging 3. Home BP tracking 4. Educational materials on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Stroke- Participants will have access to education modules on reducing the risk of CVD and stroke tailored to their knowledge level. 5. CHO provider portal- The provider portal will include decision support tools.
Regular/usual appointments or visits to patients' healthcare provider for management of study outcomes
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana
Kumasi South Hospital
Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana
Manhyia Government Hospital
Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana
Suntreso Government Hospital
Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana
Change in Blood Pressure levels from Baseline
Changes in Blood pressure levels, measured in mmHg, will be assessed at the baseline, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, 9-month, and 12-month visits.
Time frame: Baseline, 1 month , 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Blood Pressure control by poverty status from Baseline
Blood pressure control - defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) \< 140 mm Hg SBP reduction will be compared by deprivation status defined by monthly income \< 210 Ghana cedis determined at the enrollment visit.
Time frame: Baseline, 1 month , 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in glycohemoglobin (A1C) between arms
Hgb A1C in both study arms will be examined for change at the 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, 9-month, and 12-month visits after the initial baseline assessment.
Time frame: Baseline, 1 month , 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Difference in Hypertensive Urgencies and Emergencies between arms
Difference in the number of emergency room visits (for hypertensive urgencies and/or emergencies) for both arms will be examined at the 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, 9-month, and 12-month visits. after the initial baseline assessment.
Time frame: Baseline, 1 month , 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Difference in Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Events between study arms
Difference in the number of CVD events (such as strokes, coronary artery disease, heart failures, and deaths) for both arms will be examined at the 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, 9-month, and 12-month visits after the initial baseline assessment.
Time frame: Baseline, 1 month , 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
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Difference in treatment adherence as assessed by the Hill-Bone Medication Adherence Scale
Self-Reported Medication Adherence will be assessed with the 9-item Hill-Bone Medication Adherence Scale and compared in both arms at months 6 and 12 by poverty status. The Hill-Bone has broad applicability in measuring medication adherence in patients with hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke among others. Scores range from 9 - 36 with higher scores indicating poorer adherence to antihypertensive drug therapy.
Time frame: At 6 months
Difference in treatment adherence as assessed by the Hill-Bone Medication Adherence Scale
Self-Reported Medication Adherence will be assessed with the 9-item Hill-Bone Medication Adherence Scale and compared in both arms at months 6 and 12 by poverty status. The Hill-Bone has broad applicability in measuring medication adherence in patients with hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke among others. Scores range from 9 - 36 with higher scores indicating poorer adherence to antihypertensive drug therapy.
Time frame: At 12 months
Change in the acceptability and usability of the Akoma pa app score as assessed by the Marshfield System Usability Survey
The acceptability and usability of the Akoma pa app will be assessed with the 16-item Marshfield System Usability Survey. Scores on this instrument range from 16 to 80 with higher scores indicating better usability. This will be examined at the 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, 9-month, and 12-month visits after the initial baseline assessment.
Time frame: At 1 month , 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months