Improving Medication Adherence in Patients With Uncontrolled Hypertension

The project’s purpose was to improve medication adherence and blood pressure with an educational packet. The project was necessary due to patient’s elevated blood pressure readings during visit encounters. Implementation occurred at a clinic in Central Texas and included established patients ages 18 or older with uncontrolled hypertension and employed staff members. The Health Belief Model provided a framework to form a hypertension educational packet. The packet was provided at varying locations within the clinic and via staff handouts. Visual aids were intentionally selected to depict the damaging effects of hypertension, hypertension monitoring, and guidance on medication reminder apps. The study design was a pre-post intervention comparison of survey results. All staff were educated prior to implementation and cyclically during the project about use of the packet. Staff were provided a survey to evaluate effectiveness in incorporating this tool. All surveys were available electronically or as a hard copy via Questionpro. Changes were applied via the PDSA quality improvement method and entailed where and how the intervention was made available to patients. Four participants completed the pre-intervention survey and no post intervention surveys were received causing inability to measure effectiveness. The engagement level was 11-12% of hypertensive patients during implementation. Self reported blood pressure was out of range at baseline signifying continued need for intervention. Staff reported satisfaction throughout implementation period. Results could not convey impact during implementation but the reported blood pressures support continuation. Motivational interviewing techniques could increase engagement and effectiveness in the future.