Table 1.

Overall strategy

Step	Control group	Intervention group	Telemanagement
0	Health centers are selected.	Health centers are selected.	The telemedicine center is well equipped and fully functional.
1	Training of staff on parameters measurements, data coding and filling of the questionnaires.	Training of staff on parameters measurements, data coding and filling of the questionnaires. Training of the care provider (medical doctor or nurse) on treatment protocols and patient education.	Training of the team on computer data logging and telecommunication protocols.
2	Forms, medical equipment and phones are provided. Start of the study.	Forms, medical equipment and phones are provided. Start of the study.	Staff schedule established Start of the study.
3	Recording of every newly diagnosed hypertension case	Recording of every newly diagnosed hypertension case	The center is available for direct telephone calls from the care providers of the intervention group only.
4	Patient receives usual care. No interaction with the telemedicine center.	Patient receives a standardized care + education. In case of a particular need, a phone call can be sent to the telemedicine centre in Yaounde.	Cases from the intervention sites are reviewed immediately at the telemedicine center and a feedback is sent to the care provider for approval or modification of the treatment within some few minutes.
5	After a patient consultation, his data form is logged by the nurse and kept.	After a patient consultation, his data form is logged by the nurse and kept.	Data are logged in the computer and plotted, to allow visual computerized follow-up of cases and a monitoring of the progression of the study.
6	Every week, data are requested from Yaounde and sent by ordinary postal mail or by car.	Every day, data are requested from Yaounde and sent by SMS or voice mail.	Steps 3, 4, 5 are repeated until the end of the study.
7	Steps 4, 5, 6 are repeated until the end of the study.	Feedback is received from Yaounde immediately, and treatment adjusted accordingly (up titration, adding a new agent). This interaction is done in real-time. Steps 4, 5, 6, 7 are repeated until the end of the study.
8	End of study Hard copies are collected.	End of study Hard copies are collected.	Hard copies are collected. Cross check of data is done. Start of data analysis.