Improving blood pressure control after a stroke: The place of therapeutic education in the acute phase

Abstract

At the Paris Saint-Joseph Hospital Group neurovascular unit, the therapeutic patient education program "Treatment of high blood pressure after stroke" involved integrating a vascular physician. The objectives were to include a significant number of patients, to integrate learning self-measurement, and to make an initial analysis of the results concerning patient knowledge, self-measurement practices, adherence to treatment, and control of blood pressure. Eighty-six patients under 90 years of age admitted to the neurovascular unit were included in the program between January 1 and October 31, 2017, and participated in an in-hospital educational diagnostic interview followed by an initial session. During this period, 30 patients were reviewed within 3 to 6 months after discharge, with a post-session evaluation for 22 of them. Patient satisfaction was assessed with a questionnaire. A questionnaire was also proposed to the staff. The mean blood pressure of the 22 patients reviewed was on target and they had improved their level of knowledge. The number of sphygmomanometers increased from 5 to 20, but the practice of cycles was not yet mastered. Levels of observed compliance changed little. Patients and paramedics appreciated the program and were convinced of its usefulness. These results do not support a direct effect of therapeutic patient education on blood pressure control, but the observed results are positive and encouraging.