Date of Award

5-5-2026

Degree Type

Evidence-Based Project Report

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Julie Brandy

Abstract

Hypertension is a chronic condition characterized by persistently elevated blood pressure and remains a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024), approximately 47.7% of U.S. adults have hypertension, yet only about one in five achieve blood pressure control below 130/80 mm Hg. Medication adherence plays a critical role in managing hypertension and preventing complications. Adults aged 18 years and older prescribed antihypertensive medications from a primary care clinic in Valparaiso, Indiana, participated in this six-week quality improvement intervention. Evidence from a comprehensive literature review supports combining patient education with digital engagement to promote self-management and adherence. Participants received education regarding hypertension management along with weekly digital messages reinforcing disease knowledge, lifestyle modifications, and medication reminders. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to address the PICOT question: “In adults with hypertension, does providing education combined with weekly digital reminders increase medication adherence and improve blood pressure control over a six-week period?” Blood pressure readings were recorded at baseline and weekly intervals, while medication adherence was measured pre- and post-intervention using the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Results indicated a statistically significant difference in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p = .038), but not diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p = .223). All participants demonstrated improved medication adherence from pre-intervention (M = 5.94, SD = 1.07) to post-intervention (M = 7.31, SD = 0.52), although the increase was not statistically significant (p = .068). ix Due to the small sample size (N = 4), statistical power was limited despite observed improvements.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Download

Share

COinS