The Role of Telehealth in Managing Hypertension in the Adult Population

Posted: October 23rd, 2024

The Role of Telehealth in Managing Hypertension in the Adult Population

The health of the adult population is a significant concern, influenced by various factors, including chronic diseases. Hypertension, a prevalent global burden of disease, poses a considerable threat to adult health. This paper examines hypertension in adults, exploring its impact on quality of life and discussing the role of telehealth in improving outcomes and access to care. Improving hypertension management is crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality and enhancing overall well-being.

Global Burden of Disease Condition/Risk Factor
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a condition characterized by elevated blood pressure in the arteries. It is diagnosed when blood pressure consistently reads 140/90 mmHg or higher (Forouzanfar et al., 2017). Symptoms can be subtle or absent, often including headaches, shortness of breath, and dizziness. However, many individuals remain asymptomatic, highlighting the importance of regular blood pressure checks. Untreated or poorly managed hypertension can lead to severe complications, such as stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and blindness.

Diagnosis involves measuring blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer. Treatment typically includes lifestyle modifications, such as dietary changes, regular exercise, and stress reduction, alongside pharmacological interventions like diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and beta-blockers (James et al., 2014).

Technology and Healthcare
The healthcare landscape has undergone a significant transformation with the advent of technology. The integration of technology has led to a paradigm shift, moving away from traditional, reactive care models toward proactive, patient-centered approaches. Technology empowers patients to actively participate in their health management, facilitating access to information, remote monitoring, and personalized interventions. This shift has the potential to improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance the overall patient experience.

Technology offers numerous opportunities to improve hypertension management. Remote monitoring devices allow patients to track their blood pressure at home, providing real-time data to healthcare providers. Telehealth platforms enable virtual consultations, medication management, and lifestyle counseling, increasing access to care, particularly for individuals in remote areas or with limited mobility (Bashshur et al., 2016). Mobile health applications offer personalized support, educational resources, and medication reminders, promoting adherence to treatment plans.

Chosen Evidence-Based Technology Use in Disease or Risk Factor
Telehealth has emerged as an evidence-based technology with the potential to improve hypertension management. A systematic review by Omboni et al. (2020) demonstrated that telehealth interventions, including remote monitoring and virtual consultations, effectively lowered blood pressure and improved medication adherence in hypertensive patients. Another study by Margolis et al. (2019) found that a telehealth program incorporating home blood pressure monitoring and pharmacist-led medication management resulted in significant blood pressure reductions compared to usual care.

Telehealth offers several advantages, including increased access to care, improved patient engagement, and cost-effectiveness. However, some limitations exist. Concerns about data security and privacy, the digital divide, and the need for adequate technological infrastructure must be addressed to ensure equitable access and effective implementation of telehealth services. Furthermore, the effectiveness of telehealth may vary depending on patient characteristics and the specific telehealth modality used (Martinez-Pérez et al., 2018).

Conclusion
Hypertension is a significant global health concern, impacting the lives of millions of adults. The integration of technology in healthcare has created opportunities to improve hypertension management and enhance patient outcomes. Telehealth, with its ability to provide remote monitoring, virtual consultations, and personalized support, has emerged as a promising tool for improving blood pressure control, medication adherence, and access to care. While challenges remain, continued advancements in telehealth hold the potential to transform hypertension management and contribute to a healthier future for the adult population.

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NUR6400 Role Development in Family Practice: Clinical Integration.

Signature Assignment
Understanding the role technology plays in advanced primary care to vulnerable populations is vital to ensure proper and timely diagnosis and treatment to improve healthcare outcomes for the patient. The purpose of this assignment is to evaluate one global burden of disease OR risk factor in the family population (pediatric, adult, or geriatric) and explore one current evidence-based technology use that can offer improvement of outcomes and access to the population chosen.
This assignment will focus on the following course student learning outcomes (CSLO):
1. Generate knowledge from clinical practice to improve practice and patient outcomes (EOPSLO# 4, 9).
2. Leads practice inquiry, individually or in partnership with others (EOPSLO# 2, 3, 4, 7).
3. Translates research and other forms of knowledge to improve practice processes and outcomes (EOPSLO# 9).
4. Evaluate the relationships among access, cost, quality, and safety and their influence on healthcare (EOPSLO# 3, 6, 9).
5. Collaborates in planning for transitions across the continuum of care (EOPSLO# 2, 7).
6. Integrates ethical principles in decision-making (EOPSLO# 6, 9).
7. Integrates appropriate technologies for knowledge management to improve healthcare (EOPSLO# 5).
8. Evaluate the effectiveness of the plan of care for the family, as well as the individual, and implement changes (EOPSLO# 8).

Instructions: Please choose one global burden of disease and one population (adult, pediatric, or geriatric). Once the population is chosen, find one evidence-based technology to help support the improvement of outcomes in the global burden of disease chosen.
You are to write a three-to-five-page paper in APA format 7th edition with the following sections and level 2 headings:

Introduction:
Brief overview of the health of the population chosen
-Introduce the global burden of disease OR risk factor chosen
-Importance of improving the condition and its impact on quality of life
Body of the Paper
Global Burden of Disease Condition/Risk Factor
-Describe the disease OR risk factor chosen
-What signs/symptoms are identified in the patient that can be found?
-How is it diagnosed and treated?
Technology and Healthcare
-Describe the paradigm shift in healthcare related to technology
-Elaborate how technology can improve health outcomes in your population
Chosen Evidence-Based Technology Use in Disease or Risk Factor
-Describe and summarize the evidence-based technology identified that has been shown to improve the condition or Risk Factor for your patient population chosen.
-Compare and contrast the positives and negatives of using this technology use chosen.
Conclusion
-Recap points discussed in the paper
-Importance of advancements in technology

Optional Resources:
https://www.thelancet.com/gbd/summaries
https://www.healthdata.org/research-analysis/library/what-global-burden-disease-gbd