Hypertension
Conditions
Brief summary
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.
Detailed 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.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALHypertension Canada Professional Certification Program: HC-PCP
The HC-PCP is a certification program which aims to provide training to generalist primary care providers in the screening, prevention, and management of hypertension.The competencies assessed in the program have been validated for their importance through a national survey of hypertension experts and primary care providers.
Sponsors
Hypertension Canada
University of Alberta
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Masking description
By necessity, pharmacists in the intervention groups cannot be blinded. However, pharmacists will not be told about the cluster randomization, just that they will be contacted about when they will receive the HC-PCP. During the control period, pharmacists will be told that their patients will be enrolled in an observational hypertension registry to prepare for the intervention phase.
Intervention model description
Stepped wedge cluster randomized trial with the unit of randomization being the pharmacy
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
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).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The difference in change in systolic blood pressure between Intervention and Control patients. | From baseline to 3 month follow-up, and up to one year | To detect a 7 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or greater difference in systolic blood pressure. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Consultant Satisfaction Questionnaire | 6 months following follow up | patient satisfaction |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed