Impact of Training of GPs on Adherence of Hypertensive Individuals to Antihypertensive Medication

May 25, 2006 updated by: Aga Khan University
This study aims to assess the impact of training General Practitioners (GPs) on adherence to antihypertensive medication among hypertensive individuals. It also aims to assess risk factors for non-adherence. Special training (in appropriate algorithms for management and patient involvement in therapeutic decision making) has been given to GPs. The study has been conducted in six middle or low income clusters of Karachi recruiting individuals randomized to specially trained or untrained GPs, with a follow-up period of 6 weeks. The medication event monitoring system (MEMS)has been used for assessing adherence. It is hypothesized that compliance levels of individuals going to specially trained GPs is higher compared to those going to GPs not having received special training.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Background: Lack of medication compliance is reported as a major factor contributing to inadequate control over blood pressure. Data from well-structured and well-conducted researches in this field, specifically in the context of developing countries is lacking.

Rationale: Targeting factors associated with non-adherence identified in this study would lead to reduction of the burden of poorly controlled hypertension and its complications. The special training of GPs, taken as an intervention in this study, if found successful in improving compliance, would be advocated for inclusion in a nation-wide hypertension control program.

Aims:

  1. To assess difference in adherence to antihypertensive medication among hypertensive individuals visiting specially trained GPs, versus those visiting untrained GPs.
  2. To assess risk factors associated with non-adherence

Study Design: Randomised Controlled Trial

Parent Study: This project stems from the population-based parent study "Population based strategies for effective control of high blood pressure in Pakistan"; a factorial design study. It is being conducted in twelve middle to low socioeconomic clusters of Karachi. These clusters are randomised to care by specially trained general practitioners (GP) vs. untrained GPs. Special training of GPs include rigorously training in appropriate algorithms for management, and patient involvement in therapeutic decision making.

Methodology: The target population for this study has been drawn from the parent study. 6 clusters randomized to the GP training intervention were selected. The specially trained GPs from the parent study are the intervention in this research. Hypertensive individuals from within the chosen clusters have been randomly selected for enrollment in the study. Patients going to specially trained or untrained GPs were taken as exposed or unexposed to the intervention, and were followed up for a month and a half months, in order to assess their adherence to antihypertensive medication. Adherence was further assessed with the help of the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS), which gives the date and time of when each bottle was opened. this method does not however ensure ingestion of the drug.

Intervention: GPs trained in appropriate algorithms for management and patient involvement in therapeutic decision making

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

178

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Sindh
      • Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, 74800
        • Aga Khan University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

40 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Hypertensive individuals aged 40 years and above residing in selected clusters
  • Individuals prescribed with hypertensive medication by their general practitioners in related cluster

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant women will be excluded
  • Mentally unstable or bed bound patients

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Educational/Counseling/Training
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
adherence:% of days correct dose was taken

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
adherence: % prescribed doses taken

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Study Director: Tazeen H Jafar, MD, MPH, Aga Khan Univeristy
  • Principal Investigator: Nudrat Qureshi, MSc Genetics, Aga Khan University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

September 1, 2005

Study Completion

April 1, 2006

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 25, 2006

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 25, 2006

First Posted (Estimate)

May 26, 2006

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

May 26, 2006

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 25, 2006

Last Verified

April 1, 2006

More Information

Terms related to this study

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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