Supporting GPs and people with hypertension to maximise medication use to control blood pressure: Protocol for a...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• General Practice
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease.
• Poor adherence to treatment and physician inertia contribute significantly to uncontrolled blood pressure.
• The MaxImising Adherence, Minimising Inertia (MIAMI) intervention targets these issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather feasibility data for refining the MIAMI intervention.
• To determine the feasibility of conducting a definitive randomized controlled trial (RCT).
• To assess the acceptability and usability of the MIAMI intervention for GPs and patients.

Main Methods:

• A pilot cluster RCT involving 6 GP practices (3 intervention, 3 control).
• Recruitment of 10 hypertensive patients per practice (aged >65, on ≥2 medications, uncontrolled BP).
• Intervention delivered twice over 3 months; data collected at baseline and 3-month follow-up; includes health economic and qualitative components.

Main Results:

• Feasibility data on intervention acceptability and usability will be collected.
• Qualitative data will provide insights into GP and patient experiences.
• Quantitative data will inform the design of a definitive RCT.

Conclusions:

• The pilot RCT will provide crucial data for optimizing the MIAMI intervention.
• Findings will guide the planning and execution of a full-scale RCT for hypertension management.
• The study aims to improve blood pressure control through enhanced patient-GP collaboration.