The effectiveness of person-centred quality improvement strategies on the management and control of hypertension in primary care: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The Effectiveness of Collaborative Advanced Practice Nursing in Primary Hypertension Management: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is a global health concern that is best managed at the primary care level. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) facing resource constraints, collaboration between well-prepared entry-level advanced practice nurses (APNs) and physicians (medical doctors [MDs]) can enhance the care of patients with primary hypertension.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of collaborative entry-level APNs in primary hypertension management, including patient knowledge, physiological and behavioral outcomes, consultation length, and patient satisfaction.

METHODS

Sixty-three eligible patients were randomly assigned to either an entry-level APN intervention group or a control group with MDs. Three master's-prepared nurses, trained in hypertension management, acted as entry-level APNs, following the Joint National Committee guidelines in collaboration with a physician. The control group underwent standard clinic consultations. After 1 month, a mixed analysis of variance was used to assess intervention effectiveness, examining both between-groups and within-groups outcomes.

RESULTS

Both groups shared similar sociodemographic and baseline characteristics. Significant improvements in blood pressure, body mass index, knowledge, self-management, and medication adherence were found at the 1-month follow-up, with no significant differences in outcomes or patient satisfaction between the entry-level APN and MD groups. However, clinical consultation time was significantly longer for entry-level APNs than for MDs.

CONCLUSIONS

Collaborative entry-level APNs managing primary hypertension are comparable with MD care; however, larger, longer trials are essential for a thorough assessment. Strengthening the development of entry-level advanced practice nursing roles in low- and middle-income countries is crucial for addressing service gaps in primary hypertension and other chronic diseases.

Patient experiences of information-sharing and patient-centred care across the broad landscape of primary care practice and provision: a nationally representative survey of Australian adults

BACKGROUND

Australian government strategies and frameworks have been developed in recent years to encourage the integration and coordination of primary care delivery; including patient-centred approaches to clinical and preventative care, and health promotion. This study aims to explore patient experiences of information-sharing and patient-centred care across various primary care clinical settings, with a particular focus on clinical encounters with GPs, naturopaths, osteopaths and acupuncturists.

METHODS

Data about healthcare utilisation and experiences from a 63-item cross-sectional survey obtained from a nationally representative sample of Australian adults aged ≥ 18 years were analysed. Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis H tests were used to explore differences in the experiences of knowledge and information sharing during GP consultations among those who also consulted with a naturopath, osteopath or acupuncturist, compared those who had not. Logistic regression was used to investigate correlations between participants perceptions about GP consultation outcomes, and the GP's information-sharing behaviour or perceived experience of patient-centredness.

RESULTS

Across 2354 participants, verbal explanation (76.3%) and/or individualised handouts (16.8%) were the most common type of information shared in GP consultations. Individuals who consulted with a GP and a naturopath, an osteopath, or an acupuncturist reported a lower rate of receiving a verbal explanation from their GP but higher rate of receiving other types of information sources including handouts. Over one quarter of study participants who visited a GP did not discuss any of their health information with their GP. Information sharing was lower for individuals who also visited a naturopath, osteopath or acupuncturist. Participants scored their consultations with a GP as patient-centred, but these scores were lower among participants who also consulted with at least one other primary care practitioner type included in the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Public health and health services researchers, policymakers and leaders of primary care professions have a role and responsibility to ensure practitioners are confident and competent in sharing health information with their patients that considers their health literacy needs, and the importance of patient-centred care. Research focussed on a more in-depth understanding of the differences and relationships observed across the primary care landscape in this study is recommended.

Electronic Health Record-Driven Approaches in Primary Care to Strengthen Hypertension Management Among Racial and Ethnic Minoritized Groups in the United States: Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Managing hypertension in racial and ethnic minoritized groups (eg, African American/Black patients) in primary care is highly relevant. However, evidence on whether or how electronic health record (EHR)-driven approaches in primary care can help improve hypertension management for patients of racial and ethnic minoritized groups in the United States remains scarce.

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to examine the role of the EHR in supporting interventions in primary care to strengthen the hypertension management of racial and ethnic minoritized groups in the United States.

METHODS

A search strategy based on the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome) guidelines was utilized to query and identify peer-reviewed articles on the Web of Science and PubMed databases. The search strategy was based on terms related to racial and ethnic minoritized groups, hypertension, primary care, and EHR-driven interventions. Articles were excluded if the focus was not hypertension management in racial and ethnic minoritized groups or if there was no mention of health record data utilization.

RESULTS

A total of 29 articles were included in this review. Regarding populations, Black/African American patients represented the largest population (26/29, 90%) followed by Hispanic/Latino (18/29, 62%), Asian American (7/29, 24%), and American Indian/Alaskan Native (2/29, 7%) patients. No study included patients who identified as Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. The EHR was used to identify patients (25/29, 86%), drive the intervention (21/29, 72%), and monitor results and outcomes (7/29, 59%). Most often, EHR-driven approaches were used for health coaching interventions, disease management programs, clinical decision support (CDS) systems, and best practice alerts (BPAs). Regarding outcomes, out of 8 EHR-driven health coaching interventions, only 3 (38%) reported significant results. In contrast, all the included studies related to CDS and BPA applications reported some significant results with respect to improving hypertension management.

CONCLUSIONS

This review identified several use cases for the integration of the EHR in supporting primary care interventions to strengthen hypertension management in racial and ethnic minoritized patients in the United States. Some clinical-based interventions implementing CDS and BPA applications showed promising results. However, more research is needed on community-based interventions, particularly those focusing on patients who are Asian American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. The developed taxonomy comprising "identifying patients," "driving intervention," and "monitoring results" to classify EHR-driven approaches can be a helpful tool to facilitate this.

The effect of nurse-led digital health interventions on blood pressure control for people with hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Nurse-led digital health interventions (DHIs) for people with chronic disease are increasing. However, the effect of nurse-led DHIs on blood pressure control and hypertension self-management remains unclear. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of nurse-led DHIs for people with hypertension and compared the effect size of nurse-led DHIs with that of usual care to establish evidence for the development of effective nursing interventions using technologies.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews of Intervention (PRISMA) guidelines and registered the protocol in PROSPERO. Studies published from 2000 to August 5, 2021, were searched using the international databases: PubMed; Embase; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; Web of Science; CINAHL; Korean databases: RISS, KISS, KMBASE; and NDSL. Risk of bias 2.0 was used for evaluating the quality of studies. The primary outcome was blood pressure control. The secondary outcomes were self-management, medication adherence, and diet adherence. Publication bias was assessed using the funnel plot and Egger's regression tests.

FINDINGS

The systematic review included 26 studies. A meta-analysis of 21 studies was conducted to calculate the effect size and identify heterogeneity among the included studies. In our meta-analysis, we observed that nurse-led DHIs reduced systolic blood pressure by 6.49 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI]: -8.52 to -4.46, I2  = 75.4%, p < 0.05) and diastolic blood pressure by 3.30 mmHg (95% CI: -4.58 to -2.01, I2  = 70.3%, p < 0.05) when compared with usual care. Concerning secondary outcomes, the effect size on self-management, medication adherence, and diet adherence was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.58 to 1.37, I2  = 63.2%, p < 0.05), 1.05 (95% CI: 0.41 to 1.69, I2  = 92.5%, p < 0.05), and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.17 to 1.42, I2  = 80.5%, p < 0.05), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Nurse-led DHIs were more effective in reducing blood pressure and enhancing self-management than usual care among people with hypertension. Therefore, as new technologies are being rapidly developed and applied in healthcare systems, further studies and policy support are needed to utilize the latest digital innovations with nursing interventions.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This study could be used to identify that nurse-led interventions may take advantage of real-time communication by employing digital technologies for improving blood control and self-management behaviors such as medication adherence and diet adherence. Using nurse-led DHIs allows nurses to provide patient-centered interventions such as reflecting on patients' needs and shared decision-making without space constraints and limited treatment time.

Person-centered care content in medicine, occupational therapy, nursing, and physiotherapy education programs

BACKGROUND

Although person-centered care (PCC) ensures high-quality care for patients, studies have shown that it is unevenly applied in clinical practice. The extent to which future health care providers are currently offered education in PCC at their universities is unclear. We aimed to clarify the PCC content offered to students as a basis for their understanding by exploring the PCC content of Swedish national study programs in medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy.

METHODS

Using a qualitative document analysis design, we sampled the steering documents from all higher education institutions (n = 48) with accreditation in medicine (n = 7), nursing (n = 25), occupational therapy (n = 8), or physiotherapy (n = 8) at a single time point. All national study programs (n = 4), local program syllabuses (n = 48), and local course syllabuses (n = 799) were reviewed using a 10-item protocol.

RESULTS

We found no content related to PCC in the steering documents at the national level. At the local level, however, signs of PCC were identified in local program syllabuses and local course syllabuses. Seven of the 48 local program syllabuses (15%) included PCC in their intended learning outcomes. Eight of the 799 local course syllabuses (1%) contained course titles that included the phrase 'person-centered care,' and another 101 listed 142 intended learning outcomes referring to PCC. A total of 21 terms connected to PCC were found, and the term 'person-centered care' was most commonly used in the nursing programs and least commonly in the medical programs.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a broad range in how the national study programs in Sweden have incorporated PCC. The implementation has been driven by a bottom-up strategy. A deliberate and standardized strategy is needed to ensure full implementation of PCC into clinical curricula in higher education.