Description
TOGETHER project, a cluster randomized trial, conducted by a European research team in Spain, Portugal and Austria and led in Switzerland by Valérie Santschi, Professor at la Source, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, aims to evaluate whether empowering hypertensive patients by determining blood pressure and vascular aging in community pharmacies increases hypertension management and collaboration between healthcare professionals.
TOGETEHER is funded by the European Partnership on Transforming Health and Care Systems (THCS) initiative, a Cofund action under the Horizon Europe Programme, and by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) for the Swiss part.
Project details
Team
Team
Responsables
Espagne
Prof. Enrique Rodilla Sala, FISABIO, Valencia
Prof. Luis García Ortiz, IBSAL
Prof. Maria S. Fernández Alfonso, IdISSC, Madrid
Autriche
Dr. Christopher Mayer, AIT, Vienna
Dr. Florian Ardelt, OBGAM, Linz
Monika Aichberger, AP, Linz
Portugal
Prof. Telmo Pereira, IPC, Coimbra
Suisse
Prof. Valérie Santschi, La Source, HES-SO, Lausanne
Équipe La Source
Prof. Dre. Valérie Santschi, Co-investigatrice and Investigatrice principale pour la Suisse
Dre. Maša Davidović, Collaboratrice scientifique
Context
Context
Hypertension management remains a major public health challenge in primary care. Innovative interventions including health education, structured communication between healthcare providers as well team-based care models to improve blood pressure are needed. is lacking.
Objectives
Objectives
TOGETHER aims to evaluate whether empowering patients with hypertension by measuring blood pressure and vascular aging in community pharmacies improves hypertension control, while establishing sustainable collaboration between general practitioners and community pharmacists. TOGETHER has three main objectives:
Improving the collaboration between physicians and pharmacists
Improving the management of hypertension by introducing the concept of vascular age, assessed as estimated pulse wave velocity in pharmacies
Comparing different health care systems
Expected benefits
Expected benefits
TOGETHER initiative will provide innovative pathways and solutions in the setting of a randomized-controlled trial by reducing the burden of high blood pressure through better integrated primary care, closely collaborating with non-physician healthcare professionals.
Research Scope
Community pharmacists and general practitioners in Spain, Austria, Portugal and Switzerland.
Durée
2024-2027.
Contact
Valérie Santschi
Full Professor and Head of the Healthcare Systems and Interprofessional Practice Lab at la Source, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Lausanne, Switzerland
Mail: v.santschi@ecolelasource.ch