Improving knowledge and self-care behaviors in patients diagnosed with hypertension in the primary care clinic setting: A Quality Improvement Project

“Out of the 17 million global deaths per year that result from cardiovascular disease, 9.4 million are due to hypertension” (Zinat Motlagh et al., 2016). Hypertension is a chronic disease that has been a major public health concern, leading to further complications including stroke, cardiovascular, and kidney disease. The purpose of this QI project was to both better comprehend hypertension management in the primary care setting and improve patient self-care behaviors. The participants for this project were recruited from a list of patients selected after reviewing patient charts along with the community leader. Those patients who were previously diagnosed with hypertension were specifically selected.
The survey used to assess the patients was the The Hypertension Self-Care Activity Level Effects (H SCALE), which assesses the six prescribed self-care activities recommended by the JNC7: adherence to medication, weight loss or maintenance of ideal body weight, adoption of a low-salt diet, regular physical activity for 30 minutes most days of the week, limiting alcohol intake, and ceasing tobacco use.” (Warren-Findlow & Seymour, 2011). A total of nine individuals participated in this project over the span of three months. Post intervention scores for majority of the participants (88.8%) revealed an overall decrease in blood pressure readings post intervention.