Feasibility of a Person-centered Nursing Intervention on Adherence and Control in Patients With Arterial Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus.

Feasibility of a Person-centered Nursing Intervention on Adherence and Control in Patients With Arterial Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus. CERCANO Pilot Trial.

Background. Approximately 80% of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) or arterial hypertension (HTN) do not achieve adequate disease control.

Objective. To evaluate the feasibility of a research study assessing the impact of an educational and nursing counseling intervention with a person-centered care (PCC) approach to improve adherence and control in patients with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus in Colombia.

Methods. A pilot randomized controlled clinical trial will be conducted. Adults with DM or HTN enrolled in cardiovascular or metabolic risk programs will be included. A total of 100-200 patients is expected to be recruited. The intervention group will receive counseling and education tailored to their preferences following the PCC approach, while the control group will receive standard care according to the program they belong to. Follow-up will last 6 months, and the primary outcomes to be measured in both groups are: medication adherence, DM control (HbA1c at target levels, change in HbA1c), and HTN control (SBP and DBP at target levels, changes in SBP and DBP).

Results. The findings of this study will provide insight into the feasibility of conducting larger-scale studies to evaluate the effectiveness of PCC-based interventions in Colombia.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adults (18 years or older).
2. Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) or arterial hypertension (HTN) (or both), documented in the medical record.
3. Prescription of pharmacological treatment for the condition.
4. Enrollment in a cardiovascular or metabolic risk program and scheduled for a medical follow-up visit within the next 3 to 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Mental disorders that impair autonomy or understanding of the interventions.
• Congestive heart failure, ischemic or valvular heart disease, end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis, chemotherapy treatment, autoimmune diseases, recent hospitalization due to disease decompensation (within the last month), or any other condition preventing the patient from receiving general health recommendations according to their primary diagnosis.
• Physical limitations such as quadriplegia, total loss of motor function, or contraindications to physical activity as indicated by medical prescription.