A pharmacist health coaching trial evaluating behavioural changes in participants with poorly controlled hypertension

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether pharmacist health coaching improves progression through the stages of change (SOC) for three modifiable health behaviours; diet, exercise, and medication management in participants with poorly controlled hypertension. METHODS: In this four-month controlled group study two community-based pharmacists provided three health coaching sessions to 20 participants with poorly controlled hypertension at monthly intervals. Changes in participants’ stages of change with respect to the modifiable health behaviours; diet, exercise, and medication management were assessed. To confirm the behaviour change outcomes, SOC were also assessed in a control group over the same period. RESULTS: Statistically significant changes in the modifiable health behaviours- medication management (d = 0.19; p = 0.03) and exercise (d = 0.85; p = 0.01) were apparent in participants who received health coaching and were evident through positive changes in the SOC charts. The participants in the control group did not experience significant changes with respect to the SOC. This was parallel to a decrease in mean systolic blood pressure from session one to session four by 7.53 mmHg (p < 0.05, d = − 0.42) in participants who received health coaching. Improvements to medication adherence was also apparent in these participants, evident from the mean scores for the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS), which decreased significantly from a mean of 15.60 to 13.05 (p < 0.05) from session one to four. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacist health coaching produced promising health outcomes in participants with poorly controlled hypertension. Pharmacists were able to facilitate a positive behaviour change in participants. However, larger participant cohorts are needed to explore these findings further. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618001839291. Date of registration 12/11/2018. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12875-021-01385-0.