Evaluation of the motivation and key drivers of general practitioners in Belgium and Luxembourg to SIMPLIFY or intensify antihypertensive treatment in uncontrolled hypertensive patients

ISRCTN ISRCTN16199080
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN16199080
Secondary identifying numbers VI 17/01/20/01
Submission date
28/03/2017
Registration date
05/04/2017
Last edited
23/08/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Circulatory System
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a long term medical condition in which the pressure in the arteries is higher than it should be. It is major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (disease of the heart and blood vessels), which can lead to heart attack and stroke. Although there is a wide range of medications available that help lower blood pressure, many patient's still have poorly controlled blood pressure. In addition, for effective blood pressure control, many patients need to take more than one blood pressure medication. Having to take a lot of pills increases the risk that patients may not stick to their treatment program, leading to poor blood pressure control. The aim of this study is to complete a large-scale survey to investigate the motivation and key drivers in the therapeutic decision making process to improve (simplify or intensify) blood pressure medication treatment in patients with poorly controlled high blood pressure at general practitioners in Belgium and Luxembourg.

Who can participate?
Adults with high vlood pressure who are taking at least one blood pressure medication, are seen by a general practitioner in Belgium or Luxembourg.

What does the study involve?
Participants attend an appointment with their GP, who records information about their background, current medical treatment, and blood pressure. Based on this information the GP decides whether any changes are needed in the current medical treatment. The information is then collated in order to find out whether there are any patterns in a GPs decision to simplify or intensify blood pressure medication treatment.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no direct benefits or risks involved to those taking part in the study.

Where is the study run from?
Servier BeNeLux (Belgium)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2017 to September 2017

Who is funding the study?
Servier BeLux (Belgium)

Who is the main contact?
Mr Bregt Van Nieuwenhuyse

Contact information

Mr Bregt Van Nieuwenhuyse
Scientific

Servier Benelux
Internationalelaan 57
Anderlecht
1070
Belgium

Study information

Study designCross-sectional observational study
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designCross sectional study
Study setting(s)GP practice
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleCross-sectional survey evaluating the motivation and key drivers of general practitioners to SIMPLIFY or intensify antihypertensive treatment in the general uncontrolled hypertensive population treated with at least one antihypertensive agent in Belgium and Luxembourg
Study acronymSIMPLIFY
Study objectivesThe aim of this study is to evaluate the motivation and key drivers of general practitioners to simplify or intensify antihypertensive treatment in uncontrolled hypertensive patients already treated with at least one antihypertensive drug.
Ethics approval(s)Due to the observational nature of this study, it does not require ethics approval according to the European directive and Belgian law. Nonetheless, the study has been approved by pharma.be (Bureau Des Visas Études Scientifiques Décision, 31/01/2017, ref: 17/01/20/01)
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedHypertension
InterventionAll participants attend an appointment to see their general practitioner, who is asked to record the following information:
1. Age, sex, weight and height of the patient
2. number of years previously being treated with antihypertensive drug(s)
3. Presence of comorbidities (specify: diabetes, renal insuffisciency, prior CV complications, heart failure, arritmia, renal insufficiency, dyslipidemia or other)
4. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure
5. compliance to antihypertensive treatment
6. Medical treatment before consultation /
6.1 need to change current medical treatment? (yes/no)
6.2 if 6.1 yes: Medical treatment after consultation
6. If the patient has been prescribed a single pill combination, for which reason? (better compliance, better prognosis, cheaper, better control of blood pressure, simpler for the patient?)

The information collected by the GP is data collected routinely by the GP during a standard consultation for hypertension. No other data than data needed for the patient file is collected. Based on the collected patient information and the performed medical decision making, it will be calculated which variables are the main drivers for simplification or intensification of the antihypertensive treatment.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureChange in antihypertensive treatment (yes or no) in relation to blood pressure values (controlled or uncontrolled blood pressure) is assessed using information collected at the GP appointment.
Secondary outcome measures1. Change in antihypertensive treatment (yes or no) in relation to therapeutic compliance is assessed using information collected at the GP appointment
2. Change in antihypertensive treatment (yes or no) in relation to total pill burden is assessed using information collected at the GP appointment
3. Change in antihypertensive treatment (yes or no) in relation to antihypertensive pill burden is assessed using information collected at the GP appointment
4. Change in antihypertensive treatment (yes or no) in relation to type of antihypertensive treatment is assessed using information collected at the GP appointment
5. Change in antihypertensive treatment (yes or no) in relation to comorbidities/CV risk is assessed using information collected at the GP appointment
6. Change in antihypertensive treatment (yes or no) in relation to patient demographics is assessed using information collected at the GP appointment
Overall study start date20/01/2017
Completion date25/09/2017

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants5175
Total final enrolment1852
Key inclusion criteria1. Uncontrolled hypertensive patients
2. Treated with at least one antihypertensive drug
3. Consulting a general practitioner
4. Aged 18 years and over
Key exclusion criteriaSecondary hypertension.
Date of first enrolment16/03/2017
Date of final enrolment08/06/2017

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Belgium
  • Luxembourg

Study participating centre

Servier BeNeLux
Internationalelaan 57
Anderlecht
1070
Belgium

Sponsor information

Servier Benelux
Industry

Internationalelaan 57
Anderlecht
1070
Belgium

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/034e7c066

Funders

Funder type

Industry

Servier Benelux

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date25/09/2018
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planAfter completion of the study a scientific report will be written and data will be send out for publication.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from bregt.vannieuwenhuyse@servier.com

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Basic results 11/12/2018 11/12/2018 No No
Results article 05/04/2021 06/04/2021 Yes No
Protocol file 23/08/2022 No No
Protocol file 23/08/2022 No No

Additional files

ISRCTN16199080_BasicResults_11Dec18.pdf
Uploaded 11/12/2018
ISRCTN16199080_PROTOCOL_NL.pdf
ISRCTN16199080_PROTOCOL_FR.pdf

Editorial Notes

23/08/2022: Protocol files uploaded.
06/04/2021: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The final enrolment number has been added from the reference.
11/12/2018: The basic results of this trial have been uploaded as an additional file.