Rural Primary Care Setting

SMAT-R had already been integrated into routine follow-up services at the county site but not for hypertension management. Rural residents in Australia and the USA face fewer healthcare services, higher mortality rates, and a greater burden of disease compared with urban populations. Cultural and financial obstacles, long travel distances, and limited transport options are key barriers to rural healthcare access. Rural healthcare providers experience burnout due to high workloads, staff recruitment difficulties, and economic strain from patients forgoing care. Internet access is an additional barrier to rural healthcare, driven by geographic isolation, unequal infrastructure, and lower household income. The trial is conducted in a predominantly rural county in Sichuan Province. Broader adoption of rural site-specialist assessment models is recommended as a strength-based approach leveraging community health workers and digital technology.