The assessment of the capacity of Primary Health Care (PHC) settings for the management of hypertension is essential to identify areas for improving management outcomes. This study aimed to assess the capacity of PHC centers in Jordan to manage hypertension including the assessment of human resources, equipment, and infrastructure. All comprehensive PHC centers located in Irbid and Mafraq governorates in north of Jordan (n = 23) were assessed. An assessment tool from HEARTS Technical Package was adapted and used for assessment. All centers have general practitioners and half of the centers (n = 11, 47.8%) had at least one family doctor working full time. In only one center, all doctors, nurses, and other health workers were trained on the management of hypertension. All centers, except one, had at least one functional automatic blood pressure measuring devices (BPMDs). Almost two thirds of centers (43.5%) had no measuring tapes. ECG machines were present in all centers except two. One third (n = 8, 34.8%) of centers had no functional glucometers. The majority of health centres carry out the laboratory investigations. Educational materials on physical activity, hypertension, and diabetes were seen in four (17.4%) centers only. Necessary medications were always available in the majority of health centers. In conclusion, this assessment revealed many areas for improvement in human resources, equipment, infrastructures, and other resources, such as developing an updated guideline/protocol of hypertension management, training the PHC staff on these guidelines, providing PHC centers with the necessary equipment, and establishing e-registry to improve documentation of data.

The majority of patients with hypertension in Jordan have uncontrolled blood pressure. This study aimed to adapt and implement the HEARTS technical package in health care centers in Jordan and evaluate its effectiveness on hypertension management and control. The HEARTS protocol was adapted and implemented in six health centers followed by training of the healthcare staff on the adapted guidelines. Patients above 18 years old who attended health centers during the study period were recruited consecutively. The blood pressure of 852 patients was monitored over 4 months, using an individual patient treatment card. At the baseline visit, the proportion of patients with uncontrolled blood pressure was 71.5%. After 4 months of the implementation of the HEARTS protocol, the proportion of patients with uncontrolled blood pressure decreased to 29.1%. Of all studied characteristics, age was the only significant predictor of achieving blood pressure control. Patients aged ≤ 50 had a higher rate of controlled blood pressure readings after 4 months of implementation of the HEARTS protocol compared to patients older than 60 years (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.07, 3.67; P-value = 0.028). In conclusion, the implementation of the HEARTS technical package has successfully achieved better control of the blood pressure of the enrolled patients after 4 months of implementation. To achieve better control of hypertension in the general population, scaling up HEARTS technical package is strongly recommended to integrate evidence-based strategies for hypertension control into routine care.

The majority of patients with hypertension in Jordan have uncontrolled blood pressure. This study aimed to adapt and implement the HEARTS technical package in health care centers in Jordan and evaluate its effectiveness on hypertension management and control. The HEARTS protocol was adapted and implemented in six health centers followed by training of the healthcare staff on the adapted guidelines.Patients above 18 years old who attended health centers during the study period were recruited consecutively. The blood pressure of 852 patients was monitored over 4 months, using an individual patient treatment card. At the baseline visit, the proportion of patients with uncontrolled blood pressure was 71.5%. After 4 months of the implementation of the HEARTS protocol, the proportion of patients with uncontrolled blood pressure decreased to 29.1%. Of all studied characteristics, age was the only signi cant predictor of achieving blood pressure control. Patients aged ≤ 50 had a higher rate of controlled blood pressure readings after 4 months of implementation of the HEARTS protocol compared to patients older than 60 years (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.07, 3.67; P-value = 0.028). In conclusion, the implementation of the HEARTS technical package has successfully achieved better control of the blood pressure of the enrolled patients after 4 months of implementation. To achieve better control of hypertension in the general population, scaling up HEARTS technical package is strongly recommended to integrate evidence-based strategies for hypertension control into routine care. What Is Known About TopicWhat is known about topic • Jordan has a high prevalence rate of hypertension and low levels of awareness, treatment, and control among hypertensive patients.• Treatment of hypertension in primary care facilities in Jordan remains suboptimal, and only a minority of patients who are treated reach their target levels for blood pressure. What this study adds• The HEARTS Technical Package and the hypertension treatment protocol were adapted in Jordan to be used for the management of hypertension at the primary health care level • The implementation of the HEARTS technical package has successfully achieved better control of the blood pressure of patients with hypertension after 4 months of implementation.