Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring and Hypertension Management in Kenya: A Feasibility Study (HBPT-K)

Job Van Steenkiste; Lilian Mbau; Helen Nguchu; Kennedy Okinda; Ruben De Neef; Bernard Samia; Daan Dohmen

doi:10.5334/gh.1516

Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring and Hypertension Management in Kenya: A Feasibility Study (HBPT-K)

Job Van Steenkiste
, Lilian Mbau^*
, Helen Nguchu
, Kennedy Okinda
, Ruben De Neef
, Bernard Samia
, Daan Dohmen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of home blood pressure telemonitoring (HBPT) in Kenya and explore its effects on blood pressure (BP) regulation, self-reported drug adherence, patient- and healthcare provider satisfaction, and required telemonitoring time investment.

METHODS: Six-month single-arm interventional feasibility study. Hundred adults with newly diagnosed or known hypertension with an office BP > 140/90 mmHg were provided with a BP machine and were enrolled in an HBPT program. Primary outcome was BP control (% BP < 140/90 mmHg) between baseline and T = 6 months (SPRINT standardized in-office blood pressure measurement). Secondary outcomes included self-reported adherence (MARS-5 scale), patient- and healthcare provider satisfaction (TUQ and MAUQ questionnaires), and efficiency (time spent processing the blood pressure telemonitoring data).

RESULTS: Between March 2024 and January 2025, 100 patients gave informed consent to participate in the study. Eighty-four patients (mean age 54, SD = 14, 73% females) completed the six-month follow-up and were included in the final analysis. Blood pressure control improved from 0% to 72% after six months (P < 0.0001). Median MARS-5 score at baseline was 25 (IQR 25-25) and remained 25 (IQR 25-25) at T = 6 months. Patient satisfaction scores were high with a median mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) score (range 1-7) of 7 (IQR 6.97-7) and a median Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ) (range 1-7) score of 6.95 (IQR 6.86-7). Patients participated for an average of 9.2 months in the telemonitoring program and required an E-nurse time investment of 51.7 minutes to process BP data.

CONCLUSIONS: HBPT is feasible and improved BP control in a rural setting with limited time investments and high patient- and healthcare provider satisfaction rates.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered with the Pan African Clinical Trial registration (pactr.samrc.ac.za, trial ID: PACTR202408912454189).

Original language	English
Article number	1
Number of pages	11
Journal	Global Heart
Volume	21
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5334/gh.1516
Publication status	Published - 2026

Keywords

Drug adherence
Hypertension
Remote patient monitoring
Telemonitoring
Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use
Blood Pressure/physiology
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Middle Aged
Kenya/epidemiology
Male
Hypertension/physiopathology
Feasibility Studies
Patient Satisfaction
Telemedicine
Adult
Female
Aged
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory/methods

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title = "Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring and Hypertension Management in Kenya: A Feasibility Study (HBPT-K)",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of home blood pressure telemonitoring (HBPT) in Kenya and explore its effects on blood pressure (BP) regulation, self-reported drug adherence, patient- and healthcare provider satisfaction, and required telemonitoring time investment.METHODS: Six-month single-arm interventional feasibility study. Hundred adults with newly diagnosed or known hypertension with an office BP > 140/90 mmHg were provided with a BP machine and were enrolled in an HBPT program. Primary outcome was BP control (\% BP < 140/90 mmHg) between baseline and T = 6 months (SPRINT standardized in-office blood pressure measurement). Secondary outcomes included self-reported adherence (MARS-5 scale), patient- and healthcare provider satisfaction (TUQ and MAUQ questionnaires), and efficiency (time spent processing the blood pressure telemonitoring data).RESULTS: Between March 2024 and January 2025, 100 patients gave informed consent to participate in the study. Eighty-four patients (mean age 54, SD = 14, 73\% females) completed the six-month follow-up and were included in the final analysis. Blood pressure control improved from 0\% to 72\% after six months (P < 0.0001). Median MARS-5 score at baseline was 25 (IQR 25-25) and remained 25 (IQR 25-25) at T = 6 months. Patient satisfaction scores were high with a median mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) score (range 1-7) of 7 (IQR 6.97-7) and a median Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ) (range 1-7) score of 6.95 (IQR 6.86-7). Patients participated for an average of 9.2 months in the telemonitoring program and required an E-nurse time investment of 51.7 minutes to process BP data.CONCLUSIONS: HBPT is feasible and improved BP control in a rural setting with limited time investments and high patient- and healthcare provider satisfaction rates.TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered with the Pan African Clinical Trial registration (pactr.samrc.ac.za, trial ID: PACTR202408912454189).",

keywords = "Drug adherence, Hypertension, Remote patient monitoring, Telemonitoring, Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use, Blood Pressure/physiology, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Middle Aged, Kenya/epidemiology, Male, Hypertension/physiopathology, Feasibility Studies, Patient Satisfaction, Telemedicine, Adult, Female, Aged, Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory/methods",

author = "\{Van Steenkiste\}, Job and Lilian Mbau and Helen Nguchu and Kennedy Okinda and \{De Neef\}, Ruben and Bernard Samia and Daan Dohmen",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.5334/gh.1516",

language = "English",

volume = "21",

journal = "Global Heart",

issn = "2211-8160",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "1",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring and Hypertension Management in Kenya

T2 - A Feasibility Study (HBPT-K)

AU - Van Steenkiste, Job

AU - Mbau, Lilian

AU - Nguchu, Helen

AU - Okinda, Kennedy

AU - De Neef, Ruben

AU - Samia, Bernard

AU - Dohmen, Daan

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of home blood pressure telemonitoring (HBPT) in Kenya and explore its effects on blood pressure (BP) regulation, self-reported drug adherence, patient- and healthcare provider satisfaction, and required telemonitoring time investment.METHODS: Six-month single-arm interventional feasibility study. Hundred adults with newly diagnosed or known hypertension with an office BP > 140/90 mmHg were provided with a BP machine and were enrolled in an HBPT program. Primary outcome was BP control (% BP < 140/90 mmHg) between baseline and T = 6 months (SPRINT standardized in-office blood pressure measurement). Secondary outcomes included self-reported adherence (MARS-5 scale), patient- and healthcare provider satisfaction (TUQ and MAUQ questionnaires), and efficiency (time spent processing the blood pressure telemonitoring data).RESULTS: Between March 2024 and January 2025, 100 patients gave informed consent to participate in the study. Eighty-four patients (mean age 54, SD = 14, 73% females) completed the six-month follow-up and were included in the final analysis. Blood pressure control improved from 0% to 72% after six months (P < 0.0001). Median MARS-5 score at baseline was 25 (IQR 25-25) and remained 25 (IQR 25-25) at T = 6 months. Patient satisfaction scores were high with a median mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) score (range 1-7) of 7 (IQR 6.97-7) and a median Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ) (range 1-7) score of 6.95 (IQR 6.86-7). Patients participated for an average of 9.2 months in the telemonitoring program and required an E-nurse time investment of 51.7 minutes to process BP data.CONCLUSIONS: HBPT is feasible and improved BP control in a rural setting with limited time investments and high patient- and healthcare provider satisfaction rates.TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered with the Pan African Clinical Trial registration (pactr.samrc.ac.za, trial ID: PACTR202408912454189).

AB - OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of home blood pressure telemonitoring (HBPT) in Kenya and explore its effects on blood pressure (BP) regulation, self-reported drug adherence, patient- and healthcare provider satisfaction, and required telemonitoring time investment.METHODS: Six-month single-arm interventional feasibility study. Hundred adults with newly diagnosed or known hypertension with an office BP > 140/90 mmHg were provided with a BP machine and were enrolled in an HBPT program. Primary outcome was BP control (% BP < 140/90 mmHg) between baseline and T = 6 months (SPRINT standardized in-office blood pressure measurement). Secondary outcomes included self-reported adherence (MARS-5 scale), patient- and healthcare provider satisfaction (TUQ and MAUQ questionnaires), and efficiency (time spent processing the blood pressure telemonitoring data).RESULTS: Between March 2024 and January 2025, 100 patients gave informed consent to participate in the study. Eighty-four patients (mean age 54, SD = 14, 73% females) completed the six-month follow-up and were included in the final analysis. Blood pressure control improved from 0% to 72% after six months (P < 0.0001). Median MARS-5 score at baseline was 25 (IQR 25-25) and remained 25 (IQR 25-25) at T = 6 months. Patient satisfaction scores were high with a median mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) score (range 1-7) of 7 (IQR 6.97-7) and a median Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ) (range 1-7) score of 6.95 (IQR 6.86-7). Patients participated for an average of 9.2 months in the telemonitoring program and required an E-nurse time investment of 51.7 minutes to process BP data.CONCLUSIONS: HBPT is feasible and improved BP control in a rural setting with limited time investments and high patient- and healthcare provider satisfaction rates.TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered with the Pan African Clinical Trial registration (pactr.samrc.ac.za, trial ID: PACTR202408912454189).

KW - Drug adherence

KW - Hypertension

KW - Remote patient monitoring

KW - Telemonitoring

KW - Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use

KW - Blood Pressure/physiology

KW - Follow-Up Studies

KW - Humans

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Kenya/epidemiology

KW - Male

KW - Hypertension/physiopathology

KW - Feasibility Studies

KW - Patient Satisfaction

KW - Telemedicine

KW - Adult

KW - Female

KW - Aged

KW - Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory/methods

U2 - 10.5334/gh.1516

DO - 10.5334/gh.1516

M3 - Article

C2 - 41541610

SN - 2211-8160

VL - 21

JO - Global Heart

JF - Global Heart

IS - 1

M1 - 1

ER -

Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring and Hypertension Management in Kenya: A Feasibility Study (HBPT-K)

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Keywords

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