Hypertension

Transcript

Welcome to this collection of learning and assessment on the topic of hypertension. Hypertension is one of the most important preventable causes of premature morbidity and mortality in the UK. It is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease and cognitive decline. However, it may be managed effectively with lifestyle interventions and appropriate medicines. At least one quarter of adults (and more than half of those older than 60) have high blood pressure. Those who do often have no symptoms. This may introduce challenges with taking medicines when multiple medicines are prescribed. Pharmacy professionals in all sectors have an important role to play in the prevention, identification and management of hypertension. Here you will find several types of learning resource including learning programmes, guidelines and helpful tools which you can apply to your pharmacy practice. The learning will help you to feel confident in raising the awareness of hypertension and supporting patients in making healthy lifestyle choices. Being up-to-date with the clinical guidelines will support discussions around medicines options, and aid the shared decision-making process. Take a look at the resources now to find out how you can develop your practice.

The aim of this learning programme is to enable pharmacy professionals to build the knowledge, skills and confidence to deliver person-centred consultations and clinical assessments as part of the NHS Hypertension Case-Finding Service (HCFS). It includes practical skills training supported by a clinical demonstrator.

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of all aspects of this learning programme you should be able to:

• identify people who are eligible for the Hypertension Case-Finding Service (HCFS)
• recognise the indications for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) when delivering the HCFS
• demonstrate assessment of blood pressure (BP) using an automated BP monitor and ABPM device
• interpret BP readings and take appropriate action based on the results
• apply a person-centred approach to your consultations, using shared decision-making principles to address any concerns people may have
• discuss behaviour change and lifestyle advice with people as part of the service
• create a training plan to enable other members of your pharmacy team to provide the HCFS.

The aim of this e-learning programme is to provide you with a better understanding of vascular risk and the NHS health check programme.

It looks at the health policy surrounding the NHS health check programme and how it is commissioned. This learning defines cardiovascular risk and looks at some of the different assessment tools available and how these are used to estimate an individual’s cardiovascular risk.

It looks at the importance of communication with patients about their modifiable risk factors. Information on how to perform the NHS health check has been included and how to embed clinical governance into your NHS health check service.

Learning Outcomes:

• define the term cardiovascular risk and discuss which vascular diseases are included in the NHS health check programme
• describe how the NHS health check programme fits into current health policy, how it is commissioned and some of the practical aspects of providing a pharmacy-based service
• assess an individual’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) using appropriate evidence-based tools
• explain management options for modifiable risk factors following an NHS health check
• manage patients identified as having low, medium or high risk
• identify situations where referral to another practitioner is appropriate following the NHS health check
• develop strategies for communicating with patients who are at risk of CVD.

The aim of this e-course is to develop your knowledge and skills in cardiovascular therapeutics. This will enable you to provide a person-centred approach to support the healthcare of people living with or at higher risk of cardiovascular disease. It is designed for pharmacy professionals working in all areas of practice.

To facilitate your learning, we have structured the course into seven units. Some units are larger than others, but we estimate that you will need to commit an average of three hours of learning for each unit.

• Unit 1 – Introduction to cardiovascular therapeutics
• Unit 2 – Atrial fibrillation
• Unit 3 – Blood pressure
• Unit 4 – Cholesterol
• Unit 5 – Stable angina
• Unit 6 – Acute coronary syndrome
• Unit 7 – Heart failure

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of all aspects of this learning programme, you should be able to:

• describe the anatomy and function of the cardiovascular system
• explain the changes to cardiovascular system anatomy and function occurring in common cardiovascular conditions
• identify opportunities to develop your role and professional networks to deliver holistic and seamless care for people living with or at higher risk of cardiovascular disease
• apply your knowledge of medicines and cardiovascular guidelines to support evidence-based decisions and medicines optimisation for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease
• demonstrate a shared decision making approach to the care of people living with or at higher risk of cardiovascular disease
• create a personal action plan that describes the actions you will take to support people living with or at higher risk of cardiovascular disease

In this programme we consider the role of the NHS New Medicine Service in optimising the use of prescribed medicines to support self-management of eligible conditions. We consider why a person may choose not to take their medicine as intended and explore ways to deliver a person-centred consultation to achieve shared decision-making.

The aim of this learning programme is to support you to deliver effective, person-centred consultations for the NHS New Medicine Service.

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of all aspects of this learning programme you should be able to:

• explain the background, evidence base and objectives of the NHS New Medicine Service 
• describe the requirements to provide the NHS New Medicine Service
• apply a person-centred approach to recruiting and consulting with a person for the NHS New Medicine Service
• determine when a person may need to be referred to another healthcare provider
• describe the documentation requirements when conducting NHS New Medicine Service consultations 
• evaluate your consultation skills when providing the NHS New Medicine Service.

The Hypertension case finding service page has links to service specifications, training requirements, optional self-assessment tool and links to learning programmes to support your knowledge and skills to deliver the service.

This e-assessment is linked with the CPPE Vascular risk and the NHS health check programme and assesses you on the learning outcomes within that programme.

Why should I do this assessment?

This e-assessment completes the learning you began with the CPPE Vascular risk and the NHS health check programme. Access and successful completion will contribute to your own personal development plan, be recorded in your My CPPE record and will enable you to complete a CPD entry on the learning. It may also provide evidence for achieving competencies in the different competency frameworks that apply across your career. If you are working towards completing a Declaration of Competence for a pharmacy service, successful completion of this assessment will provide evidence of your learning.

This e-assessment is linked with the CPPE Fundamentals of cardiovascular therapeutics e-course programme, and assesses you on the learning outcomes in that programme. 

Why should I do this assessment?

This e-assessment completes the learning you began with the CPPE Fundamentals of cardiovascular therapeutics e-course. Access and successful completion will contribute to your own personal development plan, be recorded in your My CPPE record and will enable you to complete a CPD entry on the learning. It may also provide evidence for achieving competencies in the different competency frameworks that apply across your career. If you are working towards completing a Declaration of Competence for a pharmacy service, successful completion of this assessment will provide evidence of your learning.

This tool presents an overview of data on cardiovascular and cardiovascular related conditions of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.

We have a portfolio of clinical fact sheets which includes topics such as sepsis, pneumonia, urinary incontinence, UTIs and healthcare associated infections. Each fact sheet should refresh your knowledge of that particular condition and provide you with links to appropriate further resources.

CVDPREVENT is a tool that holds data from primary care and suggests improvements that can be made to reduce cardiovascular risk in your area. 

This guideline covers identifying and assessing risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults without established CVD. It covers lifestyle changes and lipid-lowering treatment (including statins) for primary and secondary prevention of CVD, and includes guidance for people who also have diabetes or chronic kidney disease.

To help a person decide what option would help them to best manage their blood pressure, NICE have created a hypertension patient decision aid.

How do I control my blood pressure? Lifestyle options and choice of medicines, includes information and a table of options with advantages and disadvantages for each of the options.

NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary: Hypertension

Blood pressure UK is a charity dedicated to lowering blood pressure.  Their information leaflet ‘ introducing high blood pressure’ is available in 32 languages.  Blood Pressure UK is also known for their Know Your Numbers! campaign.  The campaign raises awareness of high blood pressure, encouraging all UK adults to get a blood pressure check.

The British heart foundation is a charity that has information, and resources related to conditions of the heart including hypertension.  Resources include leaflets in a number of languages and a heart helpline linking to cardiac nurses.