Hypertension Control Through Medications Adherence: A Quality Improvement Project Consisting of Self-monitoring, Patient Education, and Pill Box Reminders

This Quality Improvement Project (QIP) assessed the effect of a multi-component evidence-based (EB) medication adherence intervention to improve hypertension among adults 40 years and older at Annie L. Weaver Health Center, Florida. Participants received a pre and posttest using the Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire (BMQ) and Adherence Starts with Knowledge-12 (ASK-12) questionnaires which helped design, guide, and infer the intervention effects on adherence. The intervention involved; (a) two designed patient educational sessions, 4-weeks apart, on definition of high blood pressure, causes and risk factors for hypertension, sign and symptoms of uncontrolled hypertension, the benefits of taking antihypertensive medications and adhering-aiding tools; (b) self-monitoring utilizing Omron blood pressure machine along with blood pressure and medications logs; and (c) pill-box reminders. Upon completion of this QIP, adherence rates improved by 100% and blood pressure (B/P) improved in three months.