Integrating Hypertension and Cardiovascular Diseases Care Into Existing HIV Services Package in Botswana (InterCARE) (InterCARE)

Integrating Hypertension and Cardiovascular Diseases Care Into Existing HIV Services Package in Botswana (InterCARE)

Integrating Hypertension and Cardiovascular Diseases Care Into Existing HIV Services Package in Botswana (InterCARE)

The InterCARE research project proposes to leverage a successful national ART program to develop an effective package to improve the uptake of established effective hypertension and CVD risk factors management interventions among PLWHIV in Botswana and other low- and middle-income countries. Being the first project of its kind in Botswana, if successful, the InterCARE package could be readily rolled out to health facilities nationwide to diagnose, treat, track, and support the estimated 25-30% Batswana with hypertension.

The InterCARE research project is in 2 phases: Phase 1 is a pilot study to refine the 3 interventions mentioned above will take place until November 2022. Clinics staff will receive training on the management of CVD (and hypertension in particular) in-person or online. Attendees feedback will be sought to improve the curriculum prior to being rolled-out in the next phase of this research project. In parallel, the InterCARE Study Team will work with the 2 clinics Information Technology teams to adapt the existing electronic health records with CVD-specific flags, medication lists and laboratory panels. Finally, up to 288 participants (PLWHIV) and their treatment partners will be enrolled from those 2 clinics patients lists to pilot the overall InterCARE package. The results and experiences from the pilot stage will be assessed and collated to make improvements to each of the 3 intervention in the package. This final set of improved interventions will be the basis of the second phase of the InterCARE research project. Phase 1 is anticipated to last until November 2022. The InterCARE package will be tested as a cluster randomised trial in 14 clinics around Botswana: 7 clinics will receive the InterCARE package while the remaining 7 clinics will not received any intervention, continuing with the local standard of care, with a target combined recruitment target of 4652 participants overall, to be followed up for 24 months. Phase 2 is anticipated to take place from January 2023 to July 2025.

InterCARE is the name of the package of implementation strategies proposed by the investigators that are intended to integrate cardiovascular care services into existing HIV care systems in Botswana. The InterCARE package includes 3 main interventions: a tailored inter-professional training curriculum on management of CVD risk and HIV adaptation of the existing electronic health records (PIMS) adoption of a treatment partner support system.

The InterCARE package includes: Healthcare Provider HTN/CVD Curriculum A new HTN curriculum will be developed in collaboration with local stakeholders using KITSO Master trainer program documents (Healthcare provider HIV curriculum), Primary Care Guidelines, HTN/CVD curriculum/protocols trialled in Kweneng District and the CDC Prevention Hypertension Management Curriculum. Adaptation of HIV care EHR for HTN/CVD care EHR modifications will be done to enhance data collection around HTN/CVD care, with input from MoH. Patient and treatment partner sessions Clinic staff will provide in-clinic education and counselling on HTN/CVD to all PLWHIV with a diagnosis of hypertension during their routine HIV clinic visit. All patients will be provided a take-home easy-to-read pamphlet on HTN/CVD risk factor management. All PLWHIV will be asked to bring a treatment partner from their social network at the 2nd study visit so that they can practice role-plays with each other.

Effectiveness - The proportion with controlled blood pressure as measured by blood pressure readings taken at the 6 months study visit

Effectiveness - The proportion with controlled blood pressure as measured by blood pressure readings taken at the 6 months study visit

Adoption - The proportion of clinic encounters in EHR where anti-hypertensive medications are prescribed if indicated, as attainted from EHR proportion of clinic encounters in EHR where 10-year CVD risk is calculated

Adoption - The proportion of clinic encounters in EHR where anti-hypertensive medications are prescribed if indicated, as attainted from EHR proportion of clinic encounters in EHR where 10-year CVD risk is calculated

Adoption - The proportion of clinic encounters in which 10-year CVD risk is calculated, data obtained from the EHR

Adoption - The proportion of clinic encounters in which 10-year CVD risk is calculated, data obtained from the EHR

Fidelity - Audit of intervention implementation as designed as measured by weekly research assistant auditing checklist

Maintenance - Provider perceptions of ability to maintain plus change in blood pressure control at 12 months as measured by providers qualitative interviews

Maintenance - Patients perceptions of ability to maintain plus change in blood pressure control at 12 months as measured by patients qualitative interviews

Feasibility - The ability to implement integrated HIV/HTN care, HIV/HTN/CVD care, clinic viral suppression as measured by clinics-administered interviews at baseline

Feasibility - The ability to implement integrated HIV/HTN care, HIV/HTN/CVD care, clinic viral suppression as measured by clinics-administered interviews at 12 months

Acceptability - The patient perception of acceptability of the interCARE intervention package measured by survey and interviews at baseline

Acceptability - The provider perception of acceptability of the interCARE intervention package measured by survey and interviews at baseline

Acceptability - The provider perception of acceptability of the interCARE intervention package measured by survey and interviews at 12 months

Acceptability - The patient perception of acceptability of the interCARE intervention package measured by survey and interviews at 12 months

Change from baseline in % PLWHIV and HTN screened for any CVD risk factors, data collected from the EHR at 6 months

Change from baseline in % PLWHIV and HTN screened for any CVD risk factors, data collected from the EHR at 12 months

Inclusion criteria for participants: Adults aged 20-75 years old Documented HIV-infection on ART Confirmed diagnosis of hypertension or elevated blood pressure >140/90mmHg versus >130/80mmHg if they have underlying Diabetes Mellitus or Chronic Kidney Disease Receiving regular care at the selected clinics Exclusion Criteria: ● Positive for HIV-related dementia Inclusion criteria for participants' treatment partners: Adults aged 18 years of age or older Selected to be a treatment partner by participant.

Data recorded as part of the study will be anonymised and will be deposited in a secured archiving facility at the University of Botswana Health Records Unit. Researchers may request access to data as part of transparency and data sharing however this is strictly upon request and will be governed through the required legal office, with at the least, a Data Sharing Agreement in place. Further details on this can be found in our Data Management plan.