Hypertension is a major risk factor worldwide for early death. Well-established interventions like the Dash diet on average have modest results (5 mmHg systolic and 3 mmHg diastolic pressure improvement). We compare three employee eHealth intervention pilots with results that are three to six times larger, analysing them for eSupport design lessons. In these pilots, various tools and daily microlearning strategies have been used. Small-scale Self-Management Support (SMS) groups for hypertension control foster high degrees of learning, interaction, and personalization. Average blood pressure improvements in the pilots were 161/112 to 129/90 mmHg, resp. 145/92 to 126/86 mmHg, and 155/95 to 139/85 mmHg. User evaluation (n=20) showed the importance of core SMS components: information transfer, daily monitoring, promoting health competences and follow-up. A cross-case finding is that more daily social learning and ICT-enabled microlearning feedback increases success: for competence building and for blood pressure results.

Hypertension Self-Management is more powerful when done in groups, and with daily (e)Support for maximum impact. Small intervention groups enable high degrees of personalization, interaction, and learning. We compare three Self-Management Support (SMS) pilots of two weeks duration, in which various tools and daily microlearning strategies were used. Average blood pressure improvements in the pilots were 161/112 to 129/90 mmHg, resp. 145/92 to 126/86 mmHg, and 155/95 to 139/85 mmHg. User evaluations (n=20) were collected on perceived effectiveness of the various support components. This showed the importance of core SMS components: information transfer, daily monitoring, promoting health competences and follow-up. A tentative cross-case conclusion is that more daily social learning and microlearning feedback helps build more success: for blood pressure results and for competence building.

High blood pressure is a leading cause of premature death. Healthy lifestyle choices (of diet, exercise, sleep and stress) could offer significant results. However, health literacy and -competence are lacking in most people, compared to best practice health choices, so there is room for improvement in creating hypertension self-management results. We tested an intensive two-week Self-Management Support (SMS) pilot, using daily feedback and microlearning cycles. Participants (n=8) reduced their blood pressure from 145/92 to 126/86 mmHg on average. User evaluation on effectiveness of the health support elements highlighted the importance of key SMS components like: information transfer, daily monitoring, enhancing problem solving/decision making, self-treatment using a tailored action plan, coping skills and ongoing follow-up with skilled coaches. Moreover, several aspects from microlearning, peer coaching, results-achievement and feeling better (=intrinsic motivation) were useful and hold promise for future intervention updates.