Center for Strategic Integration (CSI)

Center for Strategic
Integration (CSI)

We are able to tackle some of the most difficult scientific and social problems in the world by combining the intellectual prowess of top scientists and specialists in important practice areas. We oversee projects for a variety of clients, including international NGOs, foundations, government organizations, and private businesses.

We provide complete services and skills in all of these professional areas to support our clients’ missions and objectives.

Motivated by our personal goal of enhancing human welfare, we endeavor to develop and implement technological and programmatic solutions that will have a beneficial global impact.

Meet Our Team

Project

Community Vital Signs (CVS): An integrated community-based approach to identify undiagnosed hypertension in Nigeria

Overview

Community Vital Signs (CVS) is a five-year (2024-2029) project, funded by NIH, to screen and identify people living with undiagnosed hypertension. This project uses community-based approaches and digital technologies to connect participants to healthcare facilities within the ICON- 3 Practice-Based Research Network (ICON-3 PBRN).

Background

Hypertension (HTN) is a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke morbidity and mortality. HTN contributes to a staggering number of global deaths each year. In low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), it accounts for over three quarters of CVD deaths. HTN prevalence is higher among people who dwell in cities and urban slums. If detected early, it is manageable; yet the screening rates are low and inequitable in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Approach and Study Aims

The CVS Study is being implemented across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The implementation strategies to be evaluated in this study are stakeholder-driven, congregation-based blood pressure (BP) screenings that are culturally appropriate and provide a novel approach for expanding equitable access to HTN screening with referral to nearby health facilities. CVS is guided by the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) and RE-AIM frameworks to assess the comparative effectiveness of a set of core versus core+ implementation strategies. The study aims are to:

Engage stakeholders to refine and finalize the co-creation of community vital signs (CVS) strategies aiming to increase rates of BP screening and connections to care in Nigeria.
Implement and assess CVS strategies aiming to increase rates of BP screening at all 12 study sites.
Implement and compare two different CVS strategies to make connections to primary care for those found to have high BP readings that meet HTN criteria at all 12 study sites.

Study Measures

The CVS Study implementation and clinical outcomes will be evaluated using the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance/Sustainment) framework.

Reach (number of people offered BP screenings).
Adoption (percentage of sites approached who agree to participate).
Implementation strategies fidelity (delivery of implementation strategies according to CVS Study protocol).
Implementation effectiveness (percent of people who screen positive who are successfully linked to care).
Maintenance (Eligible community members successfully screened who return).

Key Study Outcomes

- Improve early diagnosis for HTN.
- Increase awareness and knowledge of participants about BP screening and HTN treatment.
- Improve connection to care and retention in care for people living with HTN.
- Development of the research capacity for staff within the ICON-3 PBRN.

For more information about the CVS Study,

contact: admin@ivaninstitute.org
MPI: Jennifer DeVoe, PhD; Oregon Health Science University: devoej@ohsu.edu

MPI: Echezona Ezeanolue, MD; University of Nigeria;
ctair@unn.edu.ng