Improving uptake and engagement in a digital intervention for hypertension

Abstract

Background: Raised blood pressure is the leading risk factor for global disease burden. An online intervention (HOME-BP) was designed using existing evidence and theory (Self-Regulatory Model, Behaviour Change Wheel). It aimed to support patients in monitoring their blood pressure at home, making medication changes and lifestyle changes to help reduce blood pressure. This study aimed to explore both patients’ perceptions of managing their hypertension with a digital intervention and perceptions of HOME-BP, to understand how we could maximise uptake and engagement. Methods: We took a person-based approach to intervention development, exploring patients’ perceptions within interviews (N=51). We purposefully sampled both those who were interested in using a digital intervention to manage their hypertension and those who were not. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: A number of barriers to uptake were identified, including concerns that digital interventions might not provide accurate, tailored advice and about lack of healthcare practitioner input. Patients found HOME BP engaging, valuing aspects of the website designed to raise motivation for behavioural changes. However, challenges to patients’ treatment perceptions that practitioners were best equipped to treat them appeared to cause disengagement with the intervention. This talk will illustrate how we addressed patients’ concerns through modifications to recruitment materials and the HOME-BP intervention, to promote uptake and engagement. Discussion: A person-based approach enabled optimisation of recruitment materials and the HOME BP intervention, enabling us to maximise uptake and engagement. Paying particular attention to patients’ treatment perceptions was key to making this intervention persuasive.