# Development and evaluation of an IoT-based hypertension surveillance system in community health settings: a mixed-methods quasi-experimental study protocol

## TL;DR

This study tests an IoT-based system for managing hypertension in community health settings to improve monitoring and patient outcomes.

## Contribution

A mixed-methods quasi-experimental evaluation of an IoT-based hypertension surveillance system in real-world primary care.

## Key findings

- The study will assess blood pressure control rates and management effectiveness using IoT technology.
- Qualitative insights will identify barriers and facilitators to implementing IoT-based hypertension monitoring.
- Cost-effectiveness analysis will evaluate healthcare utilization and intervention costs.

## Abstract

Hypertension, affecting over 1.3 billion people globally, poses a significant public health challenge. Despite its widespread impact, hypertension management in primary healthcare settings faces challenges such as fragmented data collection, low patient adherence, and insufficient real-time monitoring. This study evaluates the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and implementation process of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based hypertension surveillance system designed to address these gaps in community health settings.

This pragmatic quasi-experimental trial involves 2,000 hypertensive patients managed under family doctor contract services in Beijing, China. The intervention group (n = 1,000) utilizes an IoT-based hypertension monitoring platform, which integrates smart blood pressure devices and real-time data transmission for dynamic tracking and management. The control group (n = 1,000) receives standard care without IoT integration. The primary outcome is blood pressure control rate, while secondary outcomes encompass standardized management rate, measurement completion rate, referral rates and biomarker profiles. Cost-effectiveness is evaluated using administrative data on healthcare utilization and intervention costs. Qualitative data, collected through patient surveys and focus groups with healthcare providers, explores implementation barriers and user experiences.

The study aims to provide comprehensive evidence on the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and implementation process of IoT-based hypertension management in primary care. By combining quantitative and qualitative methods, it seeks to understand how the intervention works in real-world settings and identify facilitators and barriers to its implementation. The findings could inform policy decisions and optimize resource allocation for chronic disease management in primary care.

ChiCTR, ChiCTR2500103556.Registered 30 May 2025.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-025-13562-3.