Smartphone coaching to help rural people control high blood pressure
Multilevel mobile health program to improve rural hypertension
A smartphone-based virtual coach plus home blood pressure monitoring to help adults in rural areas better manage high blood pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158676 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would use a smartphone program called MyBP Coach that gives personalized education, empathetic guidance, and coaching about home blood pressure monitoring, medications, and lifestyle steps. The program is adapted from a validated MyBP app and was shaped with feedback from a patient advisory committee. In a single-center trial, 334 adults with poorly controlled high blood pressure will be randomly assigned to receive the 6-month MyBP Coach program or usual care while their blood pressure, medication use, and engagement are tracked. The study combines remote home BP readings with tailored messages and problem-solving support to help you prepare for clinical visits and stick with treatment plans.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living in rural areas with poorly controlled hypertension who can use a smartphone and perform home blood pressure monitoring are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without reliable smartphone access, those who need immediate intensive medical treatment for severe hypertension, or those unable to use the app due to cognitive or language barriers may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help people in rural areas lower their blood pressure, improve medication adherence, and stay more engaged with their care.
How similar studies have performed: The original MyBP smartphone program has been shown to improve home monitoring adherence and blood pressure control, and this project adapts that approach into a new virtual coach format.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Magnani, Jared W. — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Magnani, Jared W.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.