Home blood pressure monitors, along with prompts to utilize them, critical for effective blood pressure regulation
In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania aimed to explore the impact of using blood pressure measuring devices at home for patients with high blood pressure. The study, led by Shivan Mehta, the Associate Chief Innovation Officer at Penn Medicine, was designed to influence patient behavior through behavioral science-informed methods.
The study tested a "nudge" concept, specifically the "opt out" or "opt in" framing of the choice to receive a blood pressure cuff at home. However, the results did not find a significant difference in the number of patients who achieved blood pressure control between the opt-in and opt-out groups.
Despite the lack of difference in the number of patients who took their blood pressure measurements, the study did show promising results. Around 35% of patients who received blood pressure monitors at home and texted reminders were able to get their blood pressure in check. This is compared to 21% of patients who received regular care-readings taken in their primary care provider's office.
Mehta, the study's lead author, believes that the recruitment process may have contributed to the lack of difference in the findings. Prior research has shown that opt-out approaches often work best when the effort to participate is removed for both patients and clinical staff. Mehta suggests that, in future studies, patients could be automatically enrolled through texting without requiring a phone call to reduce the effort required for participation.
The study's findings add to the ongoing discussion about the most effective methods for encouraging patient participation in health monitoring programs and achieving blood pressure control. Mehta's suggestions for future studies aim to refine the opt-out approach to make it more effective in influencing patient behavior and increasing participation.
The study's findings also suggest that the method of enrollment and consent may impact the effectiveness of opt-out approaches in influencing patient behavior. There was virtually no difference in the number of blood pressure readings submitted over the period among patients who participated in texting, regardless of the opt-in or opt-out groups.
In conclusion, while the "opt out" or "opt in" framing of the choice to get blood pressure cuffs may not have had a significant impact on patient participation or blood pressure control in this specific study, the findings highlight the importance of user-friendly monitoring methods and continuous reminders to keep the importance of blood pressure control on patients' minds. Further research is needed to refine the opt-out approach and explore other methods for encouraging patient participation in health monitoring programs.
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