Improving Hypertension Detection and Control Through a Hypertension Certification Program Based Upon the Hypertension Canada Guidelines

University of Alberta

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hypertension

Treatments: Behavioral: Hypertension Canada Professional Certification Program: HC-PCP

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03965104

Pro00090012

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will assess the impact of a hypertension management certification program for community pharmacists on the blood pressure control of patients managed by the pharmacists enrolled. The investigators will compare the systolic blood pressure of patients identified to have hypertension in the community that are followed by pharmacists who have undergone the certification course, and compare their blood pressure outcomes to subjects managed by pharmacists who have not yet received the training.

Full description

Hypertension Canada proposes the first "Hypertension Canada Professional Certification Program"(HC-PCP), specifically designed for Alberta pharmacists, to provide care and support to those at risk for or living with hypertension. Through this program, the investigators hope to help with prevention of the costly and chronic conditions to which hypertension often leads, like kidney failure, stroke, and heart disease.

The HC-PCP aims to provide training to pharmacists in the screening, prevention, and management of hypertension. It has been identified that the development and implementation of this certification program provides a unique opportunity to evaluate the impact of such a program on blood pressure reduction.

The investigators are aiming to assess the impact of pharmacist management on blood pressure control in patients with hypertension.

The development of the HC-PCP and the evaluation of its impact will occur in 2 phases. Phase 1 involves the development and implementation of the educational portion of the certification program. Phase 2 involves conducting a 1 year long study to assess the impact of the HC-PCP on blood pressure in patients with poorly controlled hypertension. This will be launched in pharmacies in Alberta.

Enrollment: 890 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with poorly controlled blood pressure (>140/90mmHg or >130/80mmHg if they have diabetes).

Exclusion criteria

• Unwilling to sign the consent form.
• Unwilling to participate in follow up visits.
• Current hypertension urgency or emergency (SBP > 180mmHg or DBP > 120mmHg).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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890 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention pharmacists

Experimental group

Description:

Will receive the HC-PCP prior to starting enrollment, and then will provide care to their patients, which will include risk assessment, prescribing of antihypertensive medications, and follow-up monthly according to the Hypertension Canada Guidelines.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Hypertension Canada Professional Certification Program: HC-PCP

Control pharmacists

No Intervention group

Description:

Will provide usual pharmacist care. All patients with blood pressure above target will be entered into the study database and serve as the control group. No specific interventions or follow-up will be mandated other than usual pharmacist care, although all patients will be assessed at 3 months to determine change in BP since enrollment (the primary outcome).