title: Using an established telehealth model to train urban primary care providers on hypertension management.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether a videoconference-based telehealth network can increase hypertension management knowledge and self-assessed competency among primary care providers (PCPs) working in urban Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). We created a telehealth network among 6 urban FQHCs and our institution to support a 12-session educational program designed to teach state-of-the-art hypertension management. Each 1-hour session included a brief lecture by a university-based hypertension specialist, case presentations by PCPs, and interactive discussions among the specialist and PCPs. Twelve PCPs (9 intervention and 3 controls) were surveyed at baseline and immediately following the curriculum. The mean number of correct answers on the 26-item hypertension knowledge questionnaire increased in the intervention group (13.11 [standard deviation (SD)]=3.06) to 17.44 [SD=1.59], P<.01) but not among controls (14.33 [SD=3.21] to 13.00 [SD=3.46], P=.06). Similarly, the mean score on a 7-item hypertension management self-assessed competency scale increased in the intervention group (4.68 [SD=0.94] to 5.41 [SD=0.89], P<.01) but not among controls (5.28 [SD=0.43] to 5.62 [SD=0.67], P=.64). This model holds promise for enhancing hypertension care provided by urban FQHC providers.
authors.affiliation: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. cmasi@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masi
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamlish
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bordenave
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Perea
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aduana
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bakris
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D019468:Disease Management; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D017145:Models, Educational; D010358:Patient Participation; D057240:Patient Preference; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching; D017216:Telemedicine; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D049269:Videoconferencing