Clinical trial NCT03965104: Improving Hypertension Detection and Control Through a Hypertension Certification Program Based Upon the Hypertension Canada Guidelines
Official title: Improving Hypertension Detection and Control Through a Hypertension Certification Program Based Upon the Hypertension Canada Guidelines (RxPATH)
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Hypertension
Lead sponsor: University of Alberta
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Hypertension Canada
First posted: 2019-05-28
Enrollment: 890
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Intervention model description: Stepped wedge cluster randomized trial with the unit of randomization being the pharmacy
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: This study will assess the impact of a hypertension management certification program for community pharmacists on the blood pressure control of patients managed by the pharmacists enrolled. The investigators will compare the systolic blood pressure of patients identified to have hypertension in the community that are followed by pharmacists who have undergone the certification course, and compare their blood pressure outcomes to subjects managed by pharmacists who have not yet received the training.

Detailed description: Hypertension Canada proposes the first "Hypertension Canada Professional Certification Program"(HC-PCP), specifically designed for Alberta pharmacists, to provide care and support to those at risk for or living with hypertension. Through this program, the investigators hope to help with prevention of the costly and chronic conditions to which hypertension often leads, like kidney failure, stroke, and heart disease.

The HC-PCP aims to provide training to pharmacists in the screening, prevention, and management of hypertension. It has been identified that the development and implementation of this certification program provides a unique opportunity to evaluate the impact of such a program on blood pressure reduction.

The investigators are aiming to assess the impact of pharmacist management on blood pressure control in patients with hypertension.

The development of the HC-PCP and the evaluation of its impact will occur in 2 phases. Phase 1 involves the development and implementation of the educational portion of the certification program. Phase 2 involves conducting a 1 year long study to assess the impact of the HC-PCP on blood pressure in patients with poorly controlled hypertension. This will be launched in pharmacies in Alberta.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with poorly controlled blood pressure (\>140/90mmHg or \>130/80mmHg if they have diabetes).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unwilling to sign the consent form.
* Unwilling to participate in follow up visits.
* Current hypertension urgency or emergency (SBP \> 180mmHg or DBP \> 120mmHg).

Primary outcomes:
measure: The difference in change in systolic blood pressure between Intervention and Control patients.
timeFrame: From baseline to 3 month follow-up, and up to one year
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Consultant Satisfaction Questionnaire
timeFrame: 6 months following follow up
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Edmonton
country: Canada
facility: University of Alberta
state: Alberta
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Alberta
name: Ross Tsuyuki, PharmD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: