The utilization of behavioural counselling for hypertension within a primary care context

Hypertension is a global health issue with over one billion people affected worldwide. The etiology is likely due to a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Current evidence supports lifestyle modification either as stand alone or adjunct therapy. However, evidence is lacking in how to approach lifestyle modification in the primary care setting. Motivational interviewing (MI) is one technique that has shown promise in diverse clinical settings. The purpose of this literature review is to address the utility of using MI in primary care with hypertension. Using a comprehensive approach, a literature search was conducted which included the following databases: CINAHL, Medline OVID, PUBMED, and COCHRANE Reviews, as well as applicable guidelines. Eight papers were selected for inclusion. A critical appraisal of the literature revealed that MI has clinical utility when addressing lifestyle modification in the context of hypertension in primary care. However, there are large methodological gaps illustrating ...