RESUMO
Background: More than half of patients with hypertension in sub-Saharan African do not achieve blood pressure control. This study determined the effect of mobile health technology on systolic blood pressure reduction and blood pressure (BP) control among patients with hypertension in Nigeria and Ghana. Methods: A randomised control trial of 225 adults with hypertension attending two General/Medical Outpatient Clinics each in Nigeria and Ghana was randomized into intervention (n = 116) and control (n = 109) arm respectively. Patients in the intervention arm received messages twice weekly from a mobile app for six months in addition to the usual care while the control arm received usual care only. The study outcomes were systolic blood pressure (SBP) reduction and blood pressure control at six months, while the secondary outcome was medication adherence at six months. Data were collected at 0 and 6 months, it was analysed using SPSS-21 software at a significance level of p < 0.05. Binary logistic regression was used to generate the predictors of good blood pressure control. Results: The mean age for the control and intervention were 60.2 ± 13.5 and 62.6 ± 10.8 years respectively; p-value = 0.300. The intervention group had greater reductions in SBP (-18.7mmHg vs -3.9mmHg; p < 0.001) and greater BP control rate (44.3% vs 24.8%; p-value 0.002). Conclusions: The mobile health intervention resulted in significant SBP reduction rate and improvement in BP control rate in the 6th month. However, improvement in adherence level in the 3rd month and was not sustained in the 6th month. The addition of mobile health technology may be extended for use in the national hypertension control plan. Female gender, formal education and being in the intervention arm were predictors of blood pressure control.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To explore the "how" and "why" of care decision making by frontline providers of maternal and newborn services in the Greater Accra region of Ghana and determine appropriate interventions needed to support its quality and related maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: A cross sectional and descriptive mixed method study involving a desk review of maternal and newborn care protocols and guidelines availability, focus group discussions and administration of a structured questionnaire and observational checklist to frontline providers of maternal and newborn care. RESULTS: Tacit knowledge or 'mind lines' was an important primary approach to care decision making. When available, protocols and guidelines were used as decision making aids, especially when they were simple handy tools and in situations where providers were not sure what their next step in management had to be. Expert opinion and peer consultation were also used through face to face discussions, phone calls, text messages, and occasional emails depending on the urgency and communication medium access. Health system constraints such as availability of staff, essential medicines, supplies and equipment; management issues (including leadership and interpersonal relations among staff), and barriers to referral were important influences in decision making. Frontline health providers welcomed the idea of interventions to support clinical decision making and made several proposals towards the development of such an intervention. They felt such an intervention ought to be multi-faceted to impact the multiple influences simultaneously. Effective interventions would also need to address immediate challenges as well as more long-term challenges influencing decision-making. CONCLUSION: Supporting frontline worker clinical decision making for maternal and newborn services is an important but neglected aspect of improved quality of care towards attainment of MDG 4 & 5. A multi-faceted intervention is probably the best way to make a difference given the multiple inter-related issues.
