Importance: We designed an online educational program for primary care health care providers, the Hypertension Canada Professional Certification Program (HC-PCP), based upon its 2020 guidelines.

Objective: The objective was to determine the effect of the HC-PCP, taken by pharmacists, on systolic blood pressure (BP) in patients with poorly controlled hypertension.

Design: Stepped wedge cluster randomized trial (unit of randomization was the pharmacy).

Participants: Patients with poorly controlled hypertension (BP >140/90 mmHg or >130/80 mmHg [diabetes]) in community pharmacies in Alberta, Canada, were recruited by their pharmacist.

Intervention: Pharmacists completed the HC-PCP program, then provided care to their patients with poorly controlled hypertension according to what they learned in the course.

Control: Pharmacists were given a copy of the Hypertension Canada guidelines and provided their usual care to their patients prior to undertaking the HC-PCP later.

Main Outcome And Measure: The primary outcome was a difference in change in systolic BP at 3 months between groups, while the secondary outcome was patient satisfaction with using the Consultation Satisfaction Questionnaire.

Results: We enrolled 890 patients from 59 pharmacies (including 104 pharmacists). Using a linear mixed-effect model with BP reduction as the dependent variable and independent variables of treatment allocation, baseline BP, site effect and patient effect, the intervention was associated with a 4.76 mmHg (95% confidence interval, 2.02-7.50, < 0.0001) systolic BP reduction at 3 months. Patient satisfaction with using the Consultation Satisfaction Questionnaire was high at 75.9 (/90).

Conclusion And Relevance: Most educational programs are not evaluated at the patient care level. The HC-PCP taken by pharmacists resulted in a 4.76 mmHg systolic BP reduction in their patients over 3 months. This would have major implications for public health, reducing heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11290583PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17151635241254089DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

patients controlled
12
certification program
8
cluster randomized
8
randomized trial
8
hypertension canada
8
hc-pcp pharmacists
8
controlled hypertension
8
care patients
8
patient satisfaction
8
satisfaction consultation
8

Similar Publications

A conceptual framework for identifying and managing system vulnerabilities for diversion of controlled substances in healthcare.

Res Social Adm Pharm

January 2025

Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Suite 425, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3M6, Canada; Research & Innovation, North York General Hospital, 4001 Leslie Street, Toronto, Ontario, M2K 1E1, Canada.

Purpose: Diversion or theft of controlled substances is a recognized problem affecting healthcare systems globally. The purpose of this study was to develop a framework for identifying and characterizing system factors leading to vulnerabilities for diversion within hospitals.

Methods: We applied a qualitative framework method, which involved 1) compiling a list of critical diversion vulnerabilities through observations and proactive risk analyses in the inpatient pharmacy, emergency department and intensive care unit of two Canadian hospitals; 2) coding the vulnerabilities into deductively and inductively derived themes and subthemes; and 3) building a conceptual framework.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Voice Quality as Digital Biomarker in Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review.

J Voice

January 2025

Department of Surgery, UMONS Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons (UMons), Mons, Belgium; Division of Laryngology and Bronchoesophagology, Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, EpiCURA Hospital, Baudour, Belgium; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Foch Hospital, School of Medicine, UFR Simone Veil, Université Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (Paris Saclay University), Paris, France; Department of Otolaryngology, Elsan Hospital, Paris, France. Electronic address:

Background: Voice analysis has emerged as a potential biomarker for mood state detection and monitoring in bipolar disorder (BD). The systematic review aimed to summarize the evidence for voice analysis applications in BD, examining (1) the predictive validity of voice quality outcomes for mood state detection, and (2) the correlation between voice parameters and clinical symptom scales.

Methods: A PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library search was carried out by two investigators for publications investigating voice quality in BD according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statements.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Weight loss therapy and addiction: increased risk after bariatric surgery but reduced risk with GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Diabetes Metab

January 2025

Division of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders, CHU Liège, Liège, Belgium; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (CIRM), Liège University, Liège, Belgium. Electronic address:

Background: Obesity is an increasing public health problem because of its high prevalence and associated morbidity and mortality. Two weight-loss strategies are currently used, either bariatric surgery or pharmacological therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs). Preclinical studies in rodents suggested an increased risk of additive disorders after bariatric surgery contrasting with a reduced risk with GLP-1RAs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Study Objective: To investigate whether intracervical injection of terlipressin during hysteroscopic surgery could reduce the amount of intravasation, the incidence and severity of gas embolism, and the COHb levels in the blood.

Design: Randomized double-blind controlled trial.

Setting: Gynecologic surgical unit in a general hospital.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Saffron has been traditionally used for various health benefits, but its effects on biomarkers of liver function, kidney function, and blood pressure in diabetes are not well understood. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the impact of saffron supplementation on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), liver enzymes (ALT, AST), and kidney function markers (BUN, creatinine) in patients with diabetes and prediabetes. A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing saffron/crocin supplementation on glycemic control, hepatic and renal function, and blood pressure regulation in patients with diabetes and prediabetes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!