Currently submitted to: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Date Submitted: Oct 26, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: Nov 17, 2025 - Jan 12, 2026
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Effectiveness, usability and acceptability of a mobile app focus on blood pressure control in adults with hypertension (Pressão na Boa): a randomized controlled trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Systemic arterial hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and a major public health problem. Despite available treatments, low adherence to treatment and insufficient levels of disease control are still observed. Therefore, innovative methodologies to improve this scenario are needed. Mobile health interventions (apps) are emerging as an alternative, showing improvements in various parameters related to the treatment of hypertension. However, most of these interventions are conducted in high-income countries.
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the effects and the usability and acceptability of a mobile application-based intervention (Pressão na Boa) on blood pressure (BP), medication adherence, and lifestyle in hypertensive adults.
Methods:
This trial was conducted with hypertensive adults, randomly allocated into two groups: control group (CG) and App group (AG). The AG was submitted to an intervention based on a mobile app (Pressão na Boa) during eight weeks. Laboratory BP, medication adherence, lifestyle, accelerometry, usability and acceptability of the App were assessed at pre- and post-intervention.
Results:
Fifty-two individuals participated in the study (AG: n = 26 and CG: n = 26). A significant main effect of time was observed on BP with reductions from pre- to post-intervention in both groups (p<0.001). A significant group-by-time interaction was found for sedentary behavior (p = 0.004) and light PA (p = 0.012), with the CG showing great effect sizes. The app received positive evaluations regarding the system usability. Most participants emphasized the functionality in supporting BP control but some barriers to its use, such as small icons and fonts, the lack of memory to record diary physical activities, and the lack of familiarity and comfort with the technology.
Conclusions:
The intervention using the mobile app Pressão na Boa led to a decrease in BP for hypertensive patients, showing a slightly larger effect compared to a counseling lecture on hypertension treatment. While the app was evaluated positively overall, it needs enhancements to improve its support for managing hypertension. Clinical Trial: Registry name: Effectiveness and Usability of a Mobile Application to Assist in the Treatment of Arterial Hypertension. URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05575232 Registration number: NCT05575232.
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