For those surrogate outcomes , low-strength evidence failed to show difference .
In subgroup analysis , high strength evidence supported a lower BP with HBPT that lasted for 6 or 12 months and was accompanied with counselling support from study personnel .
HBPT can improve BP control in the hypertensive patients .
It may be more efficacious when a proactive additional support is provided during the intervention process
To summarise evidence about the effectiveness of home blood pressure telemonitoring ( HBPT )  and identify the key components of intervention .
Mixed methods feasibility study for a trial of blood pressure telemonitoring for people who have had stroke/transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
Background Good blood pressure ( BP ) control reduces the risk of recurrence of stroke/transient ischaemic attack ( TIA ) . Although there is strong evidence that BP telemonitoring helps achieve good control , none of the major trials have considered the effectiveness in stroke/TIA survivors . We therefore conducted a feasibility study for a trial of BP telemonitoring for stroke/TIA survivors with uncontrolled BP in primary care . Method Phase 1 was a pilot trial involving 55 patients stratified by stroke/TIA r and omised 3:1 to BP telemonitoring for 6 months or usual care . Phase 2 was a qualitative evaluation and comprised semi-structured interviews with 16 trial participants who received telemonitoring and 3 focus groups with 23 members of stroke support groups and 7 carers . Results Overall , 125 patients ( 60 stroke patients , 65 TIA patients ) were approached and 55 ( 44 % ) patients were r and omised including 27 stroke patients and 28 TIA patients . Fifty-two participants ( 95 % ) attended the 6-month follow-up appointment , but one declined the second daytime ambulatory blood pressure monitoring ( ABPM ) measurement result ing in a 93 % completion rate for ABPM − the proposed primary outcome measure for a full trial . Adherence to  telemonitoring  was good ; of the 40 participants who were  telemonitoring  , 38 continued to provide readings throughout the 6 months . There was a mean reduction of 10.1 mmHg in systolic ABPM in the telemonitoring group compared with 3.8 mmHg in the control group , which suggested the potential for a substantial effect from telemonitoring . Our qualitative analysis found that many stroke patients were concerned about their BP and telemonitoring increased their engagement , was easy , convenient and reassuring . Conclusions A full-scale trial is feasible , likely to recruit well and have good rates of compliance and follow-up . Trial Registration IS RCT N61528726 15/12/2011
For those surrogate outcomes , low-strength evidence failed to show difference .
In subgroup analysis , high strength evidence supported a lower BP with HBPT that lasted for 6 or 12 months and was accompanied with counselling support from study personnel .
HBPT can improve BP control in the hypertensive patients .
It may be more efficacious when a proactive additional support is provided during the intervention process
To summarise evidence about the effectiveness of home blood pressure telemonitoring ( HBPT )  and identify the key components of intervention .