title: A randomized trial of mail vs. telephone invitation to a community-based cardiovascular health awareness program for older family practice patients [ISRCTN61739603].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Family physicians can play an important role in encouraging patients to participate in community-based health promotion initiatives designed to supplement and enhance their in-office care. Our objectives were to determine effective approaches to invite older family practice patients to attend cardiovascular health awareness sessions in community pharmacies, and to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a program incorporating invitation by physicians and feedback to physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective randomized trial with 1 family physician practice and 5 community pharmacies in Dundas, Ontario. Regular patients 65 years or older (n = 235) were randomly allocated to invitation by mail or telephone to attend pharmacy cardiovascular health awareness sessions led by volunteer peer health educators. A health record review captured blood pressure status, monitoring and control. At the sessions, volunteers helped patients to measure blood pressure using in-store machines and a validated portable device (BPM-100), and recorded blood pressure readings and self-reported cardiovascular risk factors. We compared attendance rates in the mail and telephone invitation groups and explored factors potentially associated with attendance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 119 patients invited by mail and 116 patients contacted by telephone had a mean age of 75.7 (SD, 6.4) years and 46.8% were male. Overall, 58.3% (137/235) of invitees attended a pharmacy cardiovascular health awareness session. Patients invited by telephone were more likely to attend than those invited by mail (72.3% vs. 44.0%, OR 3.3; 95%CI 1.9-5.7; p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While the attendance in response to a telephone invitation was higher, response to a single letter was substantial. Attendance rates indicated considerable interest in community-based cardiovascular health promotion activities. A large-scale trial of a pharmacy cardiovascular health awareness program for older primary care patients is feasible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. karwalt@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karwalajtys
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaczorowski
authors.forename: Larry W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Levitt
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dolovich
authors.forename: Bea
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McDonough
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005194:Family Practice; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011177:Postal Service; D016730:Program Development; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013689:Telephone