A Low-Cost, Scalable Treatment Strategy for Improving Hypertension Control in Low and Middle-Income Settings: Formative Phase (Aim 1)
This study includes a survey of primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria and Sri Lanka. It will aim to assess the availability and readiness of hypertension care in primary healthcare facilities, and feasibility to conduct a future randomised controlled trial. This study also includes a survey of patients with high blood pressure who will be recruited from primary care in Sri Lanka and Nigeria. Its aim is to understand the characteristics of patients with hypertension, hypertension management and control, including use of pharmacological interventions and lifestyle management. Patients will have their blood pressure, height and weight measured. They will also be asked about their age, sex/gender, socio-economic status, medical history, and health behaviours and lifestyle. Additionally, this study includes focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with adults with high blood pressure and their carers; healthcare providers (community health workers, nurses, and doctors or physicians); clinic administrators; and policymakers. The discussions and interviews will aim to explore experiences, practices, and views on hypertension care and the new treatment strategies. Topics will cover experiences of current high blood pressure care; service availability, accessibility, and affordability; healthcare staff training and how well they follow medical guidelines for helping patients with high blood pressure; what works well and what are the problems with helping patients with high blood pressure; experiences of patients who need help with their high blood pressure; and how well new ways of helping people with high blood pressure are received.
⁃ \- primary care facility must be located in the Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria, and in the Gampaha District in Sri Lanka
• adult (age ≥18 years)
• hypertensive (defined as prior documented diagnosis of hypertension, or current use of BP-lowering drugs for hypertension, or SBP ≥140 mmHg, and/or DBP ≥90 mmHg measured on two separate occasions)