Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is implicated in half of all strokes and myocardial infarctions. One-third of adults in Scotland have hypertension yet only one-quarter of these have their blood pressure (BP) controlled to target (\<140/90 mmHg). Reasons for the low rate of control are varied but include individuals lack of confidence, knowledge and understanding of the condition and treatment strategy, non-adherence to medication and infrequent BP monitoring. These issues have been compounded by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which has brought changes in routine BP screening, access to medical care and chronic disease management in primary and secondary care, shielding of the highest risk groups and a change in health and research focus. Shared decision making and issues around health literacy were highlighted by the Scottish Government Cross Party Group on Heart Disease and Stroke: High Blood Pressure Task Force in 2019. Empowering patients to have a better understanding of their condition and becoming actively involved in the monitoring and management of hypertension may lead to improved patient satisfaction, improved BP control and health outcomes and reduction in the use of primary/secondary care hypertension clinics.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
200
Online education portal
Glasgow Clinical Research Facility
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
RECRUITINGHBPM systolic blood pressure (SBP) area under the curve (AUC)
HBPM systolic blood pressure (SBP) area under the curve (AUC)
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
HBPM diastolic blood pressure (DBP) under the curve (AUC)
HBPM diastolic blood pressure (DBP) under the curve (AUC)
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
HBPM systolic blood pressure (SBP) under the curve (AUC)
HBPM systolic blood pressure (SBP) under the curve (AUC)
Time frame: Baseline and 12 months
HBPM diastolic blood pressure (DBP) under the curve (AUC)
HBPM diastolic blood pressure (DBP) under the curve (AUC)
Time frame: Baseline and 12 months
Change in knowledge of hypertension measured by Blood Pressure Knowledge questionnaire
True/false questions, 20 items, score 0-20 with higher indicating greater knowledge
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months and 12 months
Change in health literacy measured by BRIEF: Health literacy Screening Tool
4 items, score 0-20 with higher score indicating greater health literacy
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months and 12 months
Change in quality of life measured by EQ-5D-5L questionnaire
25 items in 5 domains, health state defined by combining one level from each of the 5 domains of the questionnaires. Lower score indicates lower levels of health problems. Visual scale scored out of 100 with higher score indicating better health.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months and 12 months
Change in quality of life measured by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) questionnaire
9 items, score 0-27 with higher score indicating greater severity of depression
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months and 12 months
Change in quality of life measured by the generalised anxiety disorder 7 item scale (GAD-7)
7 items, score 0-21 with higher score indicating greater anxiety
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months and 12 months
Change in antihypertensive medicine adherence measured by the Hill-Bone compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale (HB-HBP)
14 items, score 0-56 with higher score indicating higher compliance
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months and 12 months
Change in lifestyle measured by lifestyle questionnaire
13 items, lower score indicating poorer lifestyle
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months and 12 months
Antihypertensive medication changes
Number of antihypertensive medication changes measured by number of medicines altered from last visit
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months and 12 months
Evaluation of the Kvatchii portal measured by system usability scale (SUS)
10 items, score 0-100 with higher score indicating better usability
Time frame: over the course of 24 months
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