Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2025
Hydra, a Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Cardiovascular Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: September 26, 2018
Utilization of telepharmacy in the management of hypertension
Ivan Eduku Mozu1, Afia Frimpomaa Asare Marfo1, John Serbe Marfo2
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Insights
Telepharmacy services significantly improved blood pressure control in hypertensive patients in Ghana. This approach enhanced medication adherence and lifestyle changes, demonstrating its effectiveness in managing hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Health Services Research
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease deaths are rising globally, with hypertension as a primary risk factor.
- Hypertension management is challenging, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, which has the highest prevalence.
- Telepharmacy offers a promising solution to enhance hypertension care and control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of telepharmacy-based pharmaceutical care interventions.
- To assess impacts on medication adherence, therapeutic lifestyle practices, and blood pressure control in hypertensive patients.
Main Methods:
- A six-month randomized controlled trial involving 118 hypertensive patients in Ghana.
- Intervention group received telepharmacy services alongside standard care; control group received standard care only.
- Outcomes measured included blood pressure, medication adherence, lifestyle modifications, and pharmaceutical care issues.
Main Results:
- Significant reduction in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the intervention group (p < 0.05).
- Increased proportion of patients with controlled blood pressure (39.0% to 66.1%) and improved medication adherence.
- Enhanced adoption of lifestyle modifications (reduced salt intake, increased exercise) and resolution of pharmaceutical care issues (87%).
Conclusions:
- Telepharmacy interventions delivered via phone calls effectively improved blood pressure control in hypertensive patients.
- The study demonstrated telepharmacy's role in promoting medication adherence and therapeutic lifestyle changes.
- Telepharmacy facilitated the identification and resolution of pharmaceutical care issues, improving overall patient management.
Background:
Deaths due to cardiovascular diseases is on the rise, with hypertension as its most important risk factor. Effective management of hypertension, however, remains a challenge. Globally, only one in five adults with hypertension have it under control. The situation is worse in sub-Saharan Africa where hypertension prevalence is highest. Telepharmacy presents a great opportunity to enhance the way we address hypertension management.
Objectives:
This study sought to determine the effectiveness of pharmaceutical care interventions implemented through telepharmacy on medication adherence, practice of therapeutic lifestyles and overall blood pressure control among patients with hypertension.
Methods:
This was a randomized control trial conducted among individuals with hypertension recruited from two Ghanaian hospitals from May 2022 to December 2022. Patients with confirmed diagnosis of hypertension were recruited and assigned into a control or intervention group. Both groups were followed for six months with the intervention group receiving telepharmacy services in addition to standard clinical care. Outcome measures included changes in blood pressure, medication adherence, lifestyle modifications, identification and resolution of pharmaceutical care issues.
Results:
One hundred and eighteen (118) patients with hypertension were involved in the study. There was a statistically significant reduction in mean blood pressures for the intervention group after six months (Systolic-148.1 + 23.6, to 134.8 + 13.7, Diastolic- 85.8 + 9.8, to 79.5 + 8.7) (p < 0.05). The proportion of patients with adequately controlled blood pressure increased from 39.0% to 66.1%. There was also an increase in the mean adherence score (p < 0.05). The number of participants who adopted lifestyle modifications such as reducing salt consumption (89.5%) and exercising (77.2%) increased. The majority (87%) of all pharmaceutical care issues were identified and resolved over the six-month period.
Conclusion:
Telepharmacy service provided via phone calls was effective in improving the control of blood pressure. It also promoted the practice of therapeutic lifestyle modifications, medication adherence and identification of pharmaceutical care issues among patients with hypertension.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure
01:25Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring
Several factors...
01:30Alterations in Blood Pressure
Hypertension (High blood pressure)
Hypertension occurs when blood pressure readings consistently exceed the normal range. It is diagnosed when systolic blood pressure (the top number, indicating pressure while the heart...
01:26Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
01:15Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
01:16Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Diuretics