A study published last week in the American Heart Association’s journal demonstrated that both pharmacists and community health workers were the most successful at intervening for their patients with hypertension. In this case, “success” was measured by the greatest reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The study found that interventions from nurses and physicians also demonstrated a reduction (of 4.2 mmHg in systolic blood pressure) in their patients’ blood pressure, but the reduction was not as pronounced as it was for pharmacists and community health workers (where patients had a systolic blood pressure reduction of 7.3 mmHg).
The study’s investigators searched databases for randomized controlled trials of interventions that targeted barriers to hypertension control and ensured that these articles noted which healthcare professionals provided the interventions. In total, the investigators utilized 100 articles (which included 90,474 participants with hypertension) that met the study’s criteria.
The editorial that was published along with the study (which was co-authored by our President, Dr. Ross Tsuyuki) argued that the evidence overwhelmingly shows that there are benefits of having pharmacists treat hypertension. It is not that we lack the research to prove this, rather there are several barriers to its implementation. One of the barriers identified in the editorial was adequate training and the solution presented for the Canadian context was our Professional Certification Program, which gives pharmacists the knowledge and confidence to identify and manage hypertension in their patients. The editorial closes by reminding readers that a collaborative approach amongst healthcare providers is needed in order to make a difference in the lives of patients with hypertension.
The Images of Pharmacy Practice Project | EPICORE Centre & Jim Dobie Photography