The University of Pennsylvania plans to conduct a study to examine whether social incentives can improve adherence to home blood pressure monitoring in patients with hypertension. According to the description posted at ClinicalTrials.gov, UPenn is looking to enroll 90 people with a history of cerebral infarction and uncontrolled blood pressure.

Each of the participants in the study will get a Withings wireless blood pressure cuff, which works with iOS and Android smartphones, to take their blood pressure twice a day.

In the control group, participants missing a reading will get automated alerts reminding them to take their blood pressure, along with weekly emails that include all of their blood pressure data for the week.

Participants of the social incentive group will identify a social supporter who will help them adhere to their daily blood pressure readings. Here, if the participant misses blood pressure readings, they and their social supporter will receive alerts reminding them to take their blood pressure. The social supporters will be expected to remind the subjects to do their “homework.” Also, the weekly emails with blood pressure data for the week will be sent both to the study participant and their social supporter.

Additionally, the study will also produce secondary outcome measures such as change in blood pressure, number of physician visits, number of emergency department visits, number of phone calls to the study team, number of changes in antihypertensive medications, patients’ perception of the Withings device, and patients perception of blood pressure control.

The trial is expected to start in June and last for 90 days.

[Via: mobihealthnews]