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Optimizing linkage and retention to hypertension care in rural Kenya (LARK hypertension study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Vedanthan, R; Kamano, JH; Naanyu, V; Delong, AK; Were, MC; Finkelstein, EA; Menya, D; Akwanalo, CO; Bloomfield, GS; Binanay, CA; Velazquez, EJ ...
Published in: Trials
April 27, 2014

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the leading global risk factor for mortality. Hypertension treatment and control rates are low worldwide, and delays in seeking care are associated with increased mortality. Thus, a critical component of hypertension management is to optimize linkage and retention to care. METHODS/DESIGN: This study investigates whether community health workers, equipped with a tailored behavioral communication strategy and smartphone technology, can increase linkage and retention of hypertensive individuals to a hypertension care program and significantly reduce blood pressure among them. The study will be conducted in the Kosirai and Turbo Divisions of western Kenya. An initial phase of qualitative inquiry will assess facilitators and barriers of linkage and retention to care using a modified Health Belief Model as a conceptual framework. Subsequently, we will conduct a cluster randomized controlled trial with three arms: 1) usual care (community health workers with the standard level of hypertension care training); 2) community health workers with an additional tailored behavioral communication strategy; and 3) community health workers with a tailored behavioral communication strategy who are also equipped with smartphone technology. The co-primary outcome measures are: 1) linkage to hypertension care, and 2) one-year change in systolic blood pressure among hypertensive individuals. Cost-effectiveness analysis will be conducted in terms of costs per unit decrease in blood pressure and costs per disability-adjusted life year gained. DISCUSSION: This study will provide evidence regarding the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of strategies to optimize linkage and retention to hypertension care that can be applicable to non-communicable disease management in low- and middle-income countries. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered with (NCT01844596) on 30 April 2013.

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Published In

Trials

DOI

EISSN

1745-6215

Publication Date

April 27, 2014

Volume

15

Start / End Page

143

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Time Factors
  • Rural Health Services
  • Research Design
  • Professional-Patient Relations
  • Patients
  • Patient Compliance
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Kenya
  • Hypertension
 

Citation

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Vedanthan, R., Kamano, J. H., Naanyu, V., Delong, A. K., Were, M. C., Finkelstein, E. A., … Fuster, V. (2014). Optimizing linkage and retention to hypertension care in rural Kenya (LARK hypertension study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 15, 143. https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-15-143
Vedanthan, Rajesh, Jemima H. Kamano, Violet Naanyu, Allison K. Delong, Martin C. Were, Eric A. Finkelstein, Diana Menya, et al. “Optimizing linkage and retention to hypertension care in rural Kenya (LARK hypertension study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials 15 (April 27, 2014): 143. https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-15-143.
Vedanthan R, Kamano JH, Naanyu V, Delong AK, Were MC, Finkelstein EA, et al. Optimizing linkage and retention to hypertension care in rural Kenya (LARK hypertension study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2014 Apr 27;15:143.
Vedanthan, Rajesh, et al. “Optimizing linkage and retention to hypertension care in rural Kenya (LARK hypertension study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials, vol. 15, Apr. 2014, p. 143. Pubmed, doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-143.
Vedanthan R, Kamano JH, Naanyu V, Delong AK, Were MC, Finkelstein EA, Menya D, Akwanalo CO, Bloomfield GS, Binanay CA, Velazquez EJ, Hogan JW, Horowitz CR, Inui TS, Kimaiyo S, Fuster V. Optimizing linkage and retention to hypertension care in rural Kenya (LARK hypertension study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2014 Apr 27;15:143.
Journal cover image

Published In

Trials

DOI

EISSN

1745-6215

Publication Date

April 27, 2014

Volume

15

Start / End Page

143

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Time Factors
  • Rural Health Services
  • Research Design
  • Professional-Patient Relations
  • Patients
  • Patient Compliance
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Kenya
  • Hypertension