Friedman R et al. 1996 "A telecommunications system for monitoring and counseling patients with hypertension: impact on medication adherence and blood pressure control."

Reference
Friedman R, Kazis L, Jette A, et al. A telecommunications system for monitoring and counseling patients with hypertension: impact on medication adherence and blood pressure control. Am J Hypertens 1996;9 (4 Pt 1):285.
Abstract
"This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of automated telephone patient monitoring and counseling on patient adherence to antihypertensive medications and on blood pressure control. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 29 greater Boston communities. The study subjects were 267 patients recruited from community sites who were >or= 60 years of age, on antihypertensive medication, with a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of >or= 160 mm Hg and/or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of >or= 90 mm Hg. The study compared subjects who received usual medical care with those who used a computer-controlled telephone system in addition to their usual medical care during a period of 6 months. Weekly, subjects in the telephone group reported self-measured blood pressures, knowledge and adherence to antihypertensive medication regimens, and medication side-effects. This information was sent to their physicians regularly. The main study outcome measures were change in antihypertensive medication adherence, SBP and DBP during 6 months, satisfaction of patient users, perceived utility for physicians, and cost-effectiveness. The mean age of the study population was 76.0 years; 77% were women; 11% were black. Mean antihypertensive medication adherence improved 17.7% for telephone system users and 11.7% for controls (P = .03). Mean DBP decreased 5.2 mm Hg in users compared to 0.8 mm Hg in controls (P = .02). Among nonadherent subjects, mean DBP decreased 6.0 mm Hg for telephone users, but increased 2.8 mm Hg for controls (P = .01). For telephone system users, mean DBP decreased more if their medication adherence improved (P = .03). The majority of telephone system users were satisfied with the system. Most physicians integrated it into their practices. The system was cost-effective, especially for nonadherent patient users. Therefore, weekly use of an automated telephone system improved medication adherence and blood pressure control in hypertension patients. This system can be used to monitor patients with hypertension or with other chronic diseases, and is likely to improve health outcomes and reduce health services utilization and costs."
Objective
"To evaluate the effect of automated telephone patient monitoring and counseling on patient adherence to antihypertensive medications and on blood pressure control."
Tools Used
Type Clinic
Primary care
Size
not applicable
Type of Health IT
Telemedicine
Type of Health IT Functions
"To emulate the monitoring and counseling strategies and conversational style of clinicians, and to be practical for use with large numbers of patients."
Workflow-Related Findings
Although several studies have shown that regular home blood pressure monitoring can help physicians to adjust anti-hypertensive medication, no such effect was found in this study.
The system was cost-effective.
"The majority of the telephone system users was satisfied with the system."
Of the 102 physicians whose patients were system users, 85 percent stated that they read system reports regularly, and 84 percent said that they put the records in their patients' medical records. In addition, 41 percent stated that they discussed the information in the reports regularly with their patients.
Study Design
Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
Study Participants
The study participants included 267 patients and 102 physicians.