Table 4 Recommendations for enhanced patient care and health outcomes
From: Patient journey for hypertension and dyslipidemia in Saudi Arabia: highlighting the evidence gaps
Prevalence | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Patients • Adopting healthy lifestyle modifications • Reducing salt intake • Increasing physical activity HCPs • Collecting RWD using EMR to further strengthen epidemiological research over time and across regions [72] Healthcare policy makers • Conducting public health programs that emphasizes lifestyle modification • Addressing gender inequalities by improving access to safe and culturally acceptable exercise facilities for women [73] • Levying higher taxation on tobacco products/sugar based carbonated drinks [24] • Establishing rehabilitation centers for smokers [4] • Promoting preventive attitude through regular campaigns at public places, schools, and social media [74] |
Patient journey touchpoints | |
 Awareness
| Patients • Regularly participating in community-awareness programs • Encouraging adolescents and teenagers in their families and neighborhood to adopt healthy lifestyle and early screening for timely diagnosis and management HCPs • Imparting knowledge regarding symptoms, risk factors, causes and complications with use of:  ▪ Simple lay languages and posters with easy takeaway messages, e.g., ‘know your numbers’ (in context of hypertension)  ▪ Graphical representation, or handouts to explain the meaning of cholesterol and heart diseases  ▪ Internet-based education and audiovisual aids • Organizing CME programs highlighting:  ▪ Advanced therapies  ▪ Updated treatment guidelines  ▪ New risk assessment tools validated in local population [12]  ▪ Training on the integrated management of hypertensive patients with comorbid conditions [75]  ▪ CV risk factor management using advanced technologies [12] Healthcare policy makers • Development of health-related mobile applications that has features such as [76]  ▪ Combined intuitive interfaces and appealing design  ▪ User-friendly features (with continued feedback and textual explanation)  ▪ Timely reminders  ▪ Disease-specific educational content • Educating youth to debunk myth that lifestyle changes are applicable only to elderly or patients • Increasing accessibility to healthcare facilities, especially among the geriatric population by increasing:  ▪ Public transport  ▪ Number of ramps and handrails [15] |
 Screening and Diagnosis
| Patients • Undergoing screening at PHCCs rather than community screening [38] HCPs • Promoting screening at PHCCs for following patient subsets [77]:  ▪ Periodical screening of lipid profile for all individuals ≥ 40 years or with ≥ one risk factor [35]  ▪ Universal screening for general population [77]  ▪ Selective screening for individuals admitted to acute coronary units or history of MI [77]  ▪ Family cascade screening for patients with FH [77] • Clearly defining the cut-off values for the clinical parameters depending on age, gender, and presence of CVD risk factors for accurate diagnosis Healthcare policy makers • Imparting knowledge through health promotion campaigns regarding the importance of early screening [32] |
 Treatment
| Patients • Constant collaboration with HCPs for:  ▪ Better disease understanding  ▪ Better treatment decisions  ▪ Better accountability in disease management and control HCPs • Considering factors such as easy availability (easy to refill), easy to take (once a day single pill combination), along with a reminder methodology while prescribing drugs • Using multifaceted approach involving systematic use of diagnostic tools while deciding on the mono- or dual-therapy approach in early stages [37] • Using of simplified treatment regimen and combination pill concept Healthcare policy makers • Involving a team including clinical pharmacists and nurses in patient management [78] |
 Adherence and Control
| Patients • Involving family members for seeking medication reminders assistance at home • Being proactive for self-management of health (e.g., self-monitoring of BP) • Using technologies, e.g., iPhone users to set medication reminders record [79] HCPs • Imparting constant feedback to patients’ regarding their health status • Using self-reported questionnaire pertaining to hypertension-related complications to promote self-management attitude Healthcare policy makers • Imparting multidisciplinary educational program addressing misinformation on AEs of the drugs [42] |
