Protocol for hypertensive individuals assisted in Basic Health Care

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Methodology

Background:

• Hypertension control rates remain low globally and in Brazil, leading to significant social and medical costs.
• Effective control strategies are crucial for managing hypertension and mitigating its impact.
• Primary healthcare settings require robust tools for systematic patient consultation and monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a comprehensive protocol for the consultation and monitoring of hypertensive patients within primary healthcare.
• To create a tool that facilitates systematic care and identifies socio-individual factors influencing hypertension.
• To improve the dialogue and record-keeping between healthcare professionals and patients.

Main Methods:

• Methodological research employing the Delphi method for expert content validation.
• A three-cycle expert review process using a 1-5 Likert scale (not important to extremely important).
• Statistical analyses included percentage of agreement, Content Validation Index (CVI), and Pearson correlation.

Main Results:

• High expert agreement: 96% agreement and a CVI of 0.98.
• All protocol items were rated as at least 'very important' by experts.
• Positive Pearson correlations (moderate to strong) indicated robust inter-rater reliability.

Conclusions:

• The validated 53-item protocol, structured into seven dimensions, enables more expressive and systematic monitoring of hypertensive patients.
• The protocol aids in identifying social and individual conditions contributing to high blood pressure.
• It serves as a guide for consultations, promoting professional-patient dialogue and effective care recording.