The BP:Together Study

What is the trial about?

BP:Together was a research study designed to test a new system (intervention) to lower the blood pressure of stroke survivors and those who have had Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TIAs). The intervention was based around stroke/TIA survivors (or their carers) measuring their blood pressure at home, with input from a GP or specialist when needed. After having a stroke or TIA, people are more likely to have a further stroke. The best way to reduce this risk is to reduce high blood pressure, and yet at present a significant proportion of stroke survivors do not have their high blood pressure properly controlled (perhaps one third).

Does self-monitoring work?

Most research on controlling blood pressure with self-monitoring has been done with people who have not had a stroke or TIA. Our group has already shown, in studies where most people have not had a stroke/TIA^1,2, that measuring your own blood pressure at home (‘self-monitoring’), accompanied by careful adjustment of blood pressure medication by your GP, leads to better control of blood pressure. We have also shown that it helps to lower blood pressure if you can make decisions about adjusting your medication, following advice from your GP. These self-monitoring systems seem to work because people are more likely to take their medication consistently, and because GPs are more likely to prescribe additional medication when it is needed.

What is BP:Together?

BP:Together was a web and smartphone app which was used to remind patients to take and record their blood pressure. Patients received instant feedback about their blood pressure and a monthly report was sent to the patient's GP practice.

Process Evaluation

The trial will also include qualitative work focusing on how self-monitoring fits into the daily lives of participating patients and those who care and support them, and to understand the impact of severity of illness after a stroke or TIA. We will collect data for an evaluation of the trial through interviews with participants, their carers and healthcare professionals, supported by other research methods, to understand participants’, carers’ and professionals’ experiences and views of the self-monitoring of blood pressure intervention in practice. 

The trial also included qualitative work focusing on how self-monitoring fits into the daily lives of participating patients and those who care and support them, and to understand the impact of severity of illness after a stroke or TIA. We collected data for an evaluation of the trial through interviews with participants, their carers and healthcare professionals, supported by other research methods, to understand participants’, carers’ and professionals’ experiences and views of the self-monitoring of blood pressure intervention in practice.

Contact Details

University of Oxford (Central Trial Team)

Trial Manager - Anne Smith

Freephone - 0808 196 1530

Email - bptogether@phc.ox.ac.uk

Address - The BP:Together Trial, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Gibson Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG

University of Cambridge (local coordinating centre)

Trial Coordinator - Lizzie Kreit

Telephone - 01223762502

Email - ek445@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Address - FAO: Lizzie Kreit, The BP:Together trial, Primary Care Unit, Strangeways Research Laboratory, Worts Causeway, Cambridge, CB1 8RN

university of edinburgh (Local coordinating centre)

Trial Coordinator - Lauren Murdoch 

Telephone - 0131 651 9926 

Email - tasmin.study@ed.ac.uk

Address -FAO: Lauren Murdoch, The BP:Together trial, Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Level 2 NINE Edinburgh BioQuarter, 9 Little France Road, Edinburgh EH16 4UX