Outcome (Mobile phone applications and hypertension treatment)

Data Collection Plan
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Overview
A significant number of hypertensive patients have deteriorating conditions attributed to non-adherence to treatment (Kaplan & Victor, 2009). African American males are especially at an elevated risk (Kaplan & Victor, 2009). As such, it is necessary to devise methods that improve adherence in African American males with hypertension in Los Angeles. Mobile phone applications are one such intervention. With such technology, caregivers can alert and easily communicate with clients in regards to the treatment process. I believe that 3 months of implementation of mobile phone application will significantly enhance adherence and decrease cost of hypertension treatment.
Five cardinal variables will be measured as indicated in table 1 below. All the five variables will be measured at baseline, and 3 months after implementation of the project. The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) will be used for assessing adherence to antihypertensive regimen. The MMAS is an 8 item questionnaire that has one question answered on a 5-point likert scale and seven with a yes/no reply. In the MMAS scoring system, the scores range from 0 to 8. Scores of less than 6 reflect low adherence, scores of 6 to less than 8 reflect medium adherence and scores of 8 reflect high adherence. MMAS is reliable and valid according to several studies including Morisky et al., 2008 and Krousel-Wood et al., 2009. The internal validity and consistency will also be ensured. The use of mobile phone application is likely to improve the adherence score.
The next two variables include patient's treatment satisfaction and staff satisfaction. The TSQM 1.4 (Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication) tool will be used. The TSQM 1.4 is comprises fourteen items grouped into four domains (Effectiveness [1-3]), Side effects [4-8]), Convenience [9-11], and global satisfaction [12-14]). The TSQM scores range from 0 to 100, where higher scores represent increased satisfaction. The reliability and validity of TSQM 1.4 has been established by various studies (Bharmal et al., 2009; and Atkinson et al., 2005). Patients who regard their antihypertensive medication as ineffective, inconvenient and laden with side effects are less likely to adhere to medications. The mobile phone application is likely to improve the convenience, effectiveness and global satisfaction domains, thus increased patients' treatment satisfaction. The global satisfaction domain will be adopted for measuring staff satisfaction. Staff satisfaction levels are likely to be enhanced by the project.
On the cost outcome, the estimated hospital charges saved in treating hypertensive patients will be measured (Muennig, 2008). US dollars will be the denomination employed in measurement of outcome. In addition, the cost per patient visit will also be measured. Improvement in medication adherence is likely to decrease cost to bot...