Hypertension Identification using Mobile Health Outreach Project (HI HOPE): A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cardiovascular Disease Management
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Racial disparities in hypertension management contribute to cardiovascular disease risks.
• Mobile health clinics aim to reduce these disparities through accessible blood pressure screening.
• The impact of mobile clinic interventions on subsequent hypertension care remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of providing self-monitoring blood pressure (SMBP) devices and phone follow-up to individuals with elevated blood pressure identified at mobile health screenings.
• To assess the rates of successful follow-up calls, SMBP device usage, and primary care engagement.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 56 participants with elevated blood pressure identified at University of Minnesota Mobile Health Initiative (UMN MHI) events.
• Participants received a free SMBP device and a follow-up phone call two weeks post-screening.
• Outcomes measured included reachability for follow-up calls, SMBP usage, and arrangement of primary care appointments.

Main Results:

• 66% of participants were successfully reached via phone follow-up, with an average of 36 days to contact.
• Among contacted participants, 89% used their SMBP device, and 82% used it weekly.
• 57% of contacted participants arranged primary care follow-up by the time of the call.

Conclusions:

• Distribution of SMBP devices shows promise for improving hypertension awareness and management.
• Phone follow-up is a challenging but potentially valuable component for bridging patients to primary care.
• Mobile health interventions can be enhanced to improve patient engagement and hypertension care continuity.