Controlling Hypertension Outcomes by Improved Communication & Engagement

The communication intervention had two goals; (a) coaching to enhance veteran's abilities to communicate their questions and concerns about self-management for hypertension to their physician; and (b) improving provider's communication skills for enhancing and encouraging self-management of hypertension. A health educator met with each participating veteran in the intervention arm prior to the 2nd visit to develop a plan for enhancing communication about self-management of hypertension. The PI provided the Four Habits communication training to the 5 primary care providers in the intervention arm. Two clinic visits between each participating provider-patient pair were videotaped and coded. This project had a goal of enrolling 10 VA primary care providers to participate in the randomized control trial and 30 veterans (3 veterans from the panel of each of the 10 participating providers) who had a stroke and now demonstrated poorly controlled hypertension. The study evaluated the difference between the two groups, and compared the content of the provider-patient conversations around hypertension management.