A cluster-randomized effectiveness trial of a physician-pharmacist collaborative model to improve blood pressure control.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the value of team-based care to improve blood pressure (BP) control, but there is limited information on whether these models would be adopted in diverse populations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a collaborative model between physicians and pharmacists can improve BP control in multiple primary care medical offices with diverse geographic and patient characteristics and whether long-term BP control can be sustained. This study is a randomized prospective trial in 27 primary care offices first stratified by the percentage of underrepresented minorities and the level of clinical pharmacy services within the office. Each office is then randomized to either a 9- or 24-month intervention or a control group. Patients will be enrolled in this study until 2012. The results of this study should provide information on whether this model can be implemented in large numbers of diverse offices, if it is effective in diverse populations, and whether BP control can be sustained long term.


BACKGROUND
URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00935077.
Carter
Barry L
BL
Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. barry-carter@uiowa.edu
Clarke
William
W
Ardery
Gail
G
Weber
Cynthia A
CA
James
Paul A
PA
Vander Weg
Mark
M
Chrischilles
Elizabeth A
EA
Vaughn
Thomas
T
Egan
Brent M
BM
D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010595:Pharmacists; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care; D044382:Population Groups; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design; D014481:United States