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HypertensionPhase 3STRENGTHSNCT03543787

Strengthening Referral Networks for Management of Hypertension Across the Health System (STRENGTHS)

A Phase 3 study testing Health IT and Peer Support Intervention in people with Hypertension, run by Moi University at 1 site in Kenya.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

"STRENGTHS" is a transdisciplinary implementation research study, guided by the PRECEDE-PROCEED framework, to address the challenge of improving hypertension control in low-resource settings. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Hypertension
What is being tested?
Health IT and Peer Support Intervention
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
1,600 participants
Where
1 siteKenya
Study dates
17 Jan 2020to 31 May 2023
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • >= 18 yrs
  • Enrolled in AMPATH CDM Program
  • meet criteria for referral up or down the network
  • Patients with complicated hypertension meet criteria for referral up the network, defined as patients with hypertension who remain uncontrolled (SBP >= 140 or DBP >= 90) on 3 or more anti-hypertensive medications, who have signs or symptoms of end-organ damage, or who have suspected secondary causes of hypertension (age <35 years, HIV, or pregnancy)
  • Patients with stable, uncomplicated hypertension meet criteria for referral down the network, defined as controlled BP (SBP < 140 and DBP < 90) for 3 or more consecutive visits and no evidence of new end-organ damage

Who cannot join

  • acute illness requiring immediate medical attention
  • terminal illness
  • inability to provide informed consent

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Kenya1 site
  • Constantine Akwanalo

    Eldoret

Other trials in Kenya

About this study

"STRENGTHS" is a transdisciplinary implementation research study, guided by the PRECEDE-PROCEED framework, to address the challenge of improving hypertension control in low-resource settings. The investigators propose to test the hypothesis that referral networks strengthened by an integrated health information technology and peer support intervention will be effective and cost-effective in improving hypertension control among patients in western Kenya. The investigators hypothesise that the integrated Health information Technology and Peer Support intervention will facilitate seamless referral of hypertensive patients across the different levels of the health system compared to usual care, leading to improvement in blood pressure. If proven to be successful, STRENGTHS can serve as a model for improving referral of patients upstream and downstream in health systems worldwide.

Read the detailed description

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and 80% of global mortality due to cardiovascular diseases occurs in low- and middle-income countries. In low income countries, lack of coordination between different levels of the health system threatens the ability to provide the care necessary to control hypertension and prevent cardiovascular disease related morbidity. Strong referral networks have improved health outcomes for chronic disease in a variety of settings. Health information technology and peer-based support are two strategies that have improved care coordination and clinical outcomes. However, their effectiveness in strengthening referral networks to improve blood pressure control and reduce cardiovascular disease risk in low-resource settings is unknown.

The Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) partners with the Kenya Ministry of Health to provide care for non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs), including hypertension at all levels of the health system. The Kenya Ministry of Health Sector Referral Strategy 2014-2018 calls for improving the referral system at every level of the health system. AMPATH has piloted both health information technology and peer support for NCDs, and both strategies are feasible in this setting. However, the impact of integrating Health information technology and peer support to strengthen referral networks for hypertension control is unknown.

The proposal's objective is to utilise the PRECEDE-PROCEED framework to conduct trans-disciplinary, translational implementation research focused on strengthening referral networks for hypertension control. The central hypothesis is "Health Information Technology integrated with peer support will be effective and cost-effective in strengthening referral networks, improving blood pressure control, and reducing cardiovascular risk among hypertensive patients in western Kenya." The investigators hypothesise that Health information technology(HIT) and peer support(PS) will synergistically address barriers to hypertension control at the patient, provider and health system levels. The investigators further hypothesise that changes in referral network characteristics may mediate the impact of the intervention on the primary outcome, and that baseline referral net-work characteristics may moderate the impact of the intervention. To test these hypotheses and achieve the overall objective, STRENGTHS has the following specific aims:

Aim 1: Conduct a baseline needs and contextual assessment for implementing and integrating HIT and PS to strengthen referral networks for hypertension control, using a mixed-methods approach, including: observational process mapping and gap assessment; baseline referral network analysis; and qualitative methods to identify facilitators, barriers, contextual factors, and readiness for change.

Sub-Aim 1.1: Use data from the aim 1 to develop a contextually and culturally appropriate intervention to strengthen referral networks for hypertension control using a participatory, iterative design process. Conduct pilot acceptability and feasibility testing of the intervention.

Aim 2: Evaluate the effectiveness of HIT and PS for hypertension control by conducting a two-arm cluster randomized trial comparing: 1) usual care vs. 2) referral networks strengthened with an integrated HIT-PS intervention. The primary outcome will be one-year change in systolic blood pressure and a key secondary outcome will be cardiovascular risk reduction.

Sub-Aim 2.1: Conduct mediation analysis to evaluate the influence of changes in referral network characteristics on intervention outcomes, and a moderation analysis to evaluate the influence of baseline referral net-work characteristics on the effectiveness of the intervention.

Sub-Aim 2.2: Conduct a process evaluation using the Saunders framework, evaluating key implementation measures related to fidelity, dose delivered, dose received, recruitment, reach, and context.

Aim 3: Evaluate the incremental cost-effectiveness of the intervention, in terms of costs per unit decrease in SBP, per percent change in CVD risk score, and per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) saved.

This research project will add to the existing knowledge base on innovative and scalable strategies for strengthening referral networks to improve control of NCDs in lower-MICs. If proven to be effective, it has the potential to be a scalable model for other low-resource settings globally.

Conditions
Hypertension
Being tested
Health IT and Peer Support Intervention
Keywords
Referral networks, low and middle income countries, PRECEDE-PROCEED, implementation research, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, process evaluation
Medical subject headings
Hypertension, Cardiovascular Diseases

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Health IT and Peer Support InterventionCombination product

    Health IT will support referral system by establishing 1) communication between healthcare providers and peer navigators 2) decision support for clinician to facilitate appropriate referrals 3) tracking of referred patients real-time 4) dashboards to monitor key evaluation metrics.

    Peer Support intervention: peer navigators at each level of the referral network will ensure 1) referral adherence by link clinicians and patients 2) health system navigation 3) psychosocial support: leverage their shared disease experience to help patients overcome barriers to health seeking behaviour.

Study groups in NCT03543787
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Health IT and Peer Support InterventionActive comparatorUtilise electronic decision support, tracking of referral list and Peer facilitation for referral completion
Receives: Combination Product: Health IT and Peer Support Intervention
Non intervention groupNo intervention2014 - 2018 MoH referral protocol

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in one year systolic blood pressure as measured in clinic

    The systolic blood pressure at baseline will be compared to systolic blood after 1 year of follow up. Blood pressure measurements will be averaged from three successive readings taken every 5 minutes in clinic

    Measured: 1 year

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Change in one year overall Cardiovascular disease (CVD) QRISK2 score

    QRISK2 score is a computerised algorithm for predicting the ten-year risk of developing CVD events. The factors that enter into the calculation of the QRISK2 score include: Age 25-84 years, sex, ethnicity, smoking status, diabetes status, family history of coronary artery disease in first degree relatives below the age of 65 years, chronic kidney disease stages 4 and 5, atrial fibrillation, rheumatoid arthritis, cholesterol / high density lipoprotein ratio, systolic blood pressure, body mass index. A score of 10% or more suggest a 10% risk of primary CVD events in ten years and warrants intervention to reduce the risk. It's not used among patients who already have a heart attack or a stroke.

    Measured: 1 year

  2. Mortality

    Death at the end of the study

    Measured: 1 year follow up

  3. Hospitalisation

    Number of self-reported hospital admissions for hypertensive crises or heart failure among participants over one year follow up.

    Measured: 1 year of follow up

  4. Cardiovascular disease complications

    Any cardiovascular complications including Heart failure, Stroke and Acute myocardial infarction

    Measured: 1 year follow up

  5. Change in number of CVD risk factors and behaviors as assessed using a standardised screening questionnaire

    Baseline risk factor profile compared to profile at 1 year of the various CVD risk factors as assessed using a standardised CVD risk factors and behaviours screening questionnaire

    Measured: 1 year

  6. Self reported adherence to hypertension medication as assessed using the Morisky Medication adherence questionnaire

    To assess changes in adherence to hypertension medications at one year from baseline as determined using the Morisky medication adherence questionnaire

    Measured: 1 year

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted1 Jun 2018
  2. Study start17 Jan 2020
  3. Primary completion31 May 2023 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 May 2023 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
PRECEDE-PROCEED implementation research framework; 2-arm cluster randomized controlled trial
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
1,600 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03543787
Sponsor's protocol ID
1U01HL138636-01
Acronym
STRENGTHS
Status last verified
Mar 2023
First submitted
19 Dec 2017
Last updated
16 Mar 2023
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided: After data cleaning and primary analyses, the de-identified data will be available to the scientific community upon formal request made to the AMPATH Research Manager. The data collection instruments will also be available upon request to the AMPATH Research Manager.

Publications

  • Naanyu V, Njuguna B, Koros H, Andesia J, Kamano J, Mercer T, Bloomfield G, Pastakia S, Vedanthan R, Akwanalo C. Community engagement to inform development of strategies to improve referral for hypertension: perspectives of patients, providers and local community members in western Kenya. BMC Health Serv Res. 2023 Aug 11;23(1):854. doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-09847-0.

    PubMed 37568172
  • Thakkar A, Valente T, Andesia J, Njuguna B, Miheso J, Mercer T, Mugo R, Mwangi A, Mwangi E, Pastakia SD, Pathak S, Pillsbury MKM, Kamano J, Naanyu V, Williams M, Vedanthan R, Akwanalo C, Bloomfield GS. Network characteristics of a referral system for patients with hypertension in Western Kenya: results from the Strengthening Referral Networks for Management of Hypertension Across the Health System (STRENGTHS) study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 Mar 7;22(1):315. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-07699-8.

    PubMed 35255913
  • Mercer T, Njuguna B, Bloomfield GS, Dick J, Finkelstein E, Kamano J, Mwangi A, Naanyu V, Pastakia SD, Valente TW, Vedanthan R, Akwanalo C. Strengthening Referral Networks for Management of Hypertension Across the Health System (STRENGTHS) in western Kenya: a study protocol of a cluster randomized trial. Trials. 2019 Sep 9;20(1):554. doi: 10.1186/s13063-019-3661-4.

    PubMed 31500661

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing Health IT and Peer Support Intervention in people with Hypertension, run by Moi University at 1 site in Kenya.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Mar 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Kenya. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in one year systolic blood pressure as measured in clinic (time frame: 1 year). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03543787, which also lists 3 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Mar 2023.

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