Conquering Hypertension in Urban Vietnam

A Cluster-randomized, Type II Hybrid effectiveness implementation Trial will take place in 14 urban communities in 7 urban districts in Hai Phong city in northern Vietnam. Community Eligibility Criteria: (1) located in urban Hai Phong city; (2) distance between 2 communities will be at least 10 Km; (3) no other research studies/ health programs currently being implemented; and (4) key community and clinical leaders are willing to participate in the study. Recruitment Residents from participating sites will be invited to attend the community screening events run by local community health center (CHC) staff and Community Health Workers (CHWs). Those meeting our pre-defined eligibility criteria will be invited to their CHCs to learn more about the study. Patients with elevated blood pressure (BP) will be invited for re-measurement over the next two weeks (at least 1 week apart). After the second BP measurement, patients with elevated BP will be invited to participate in the study. Randomization Fourteen communities in urban Hai Phong (700 patients with uncontrolled hypertension - HTN) will be randomly assigned either to an intervention (7 communities- 50 patients per community) or comparison group (7 communities- 50 patients per community) by a computer procedure. Patients with uncontrolled HTN will be assigned to intervention versus comparison status based on the communities in which they reside. Intervention group: The intervention group will receive 3 components including digital Storytelling delivered via Computerized Intervention Authoring System (CIAS), home blood pressure self-monitoring and expanded CHW services (frequent contacts, visits and consultations). Comparison group: Patients in the comparison group will receive only "Learn More" module - didactic material without HTN related stories via CIAS. Patients in both groups will be followed up at 3, 6 and 12 months.