title: Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP): a community cluster-randomised trial among elderly Canadians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High blood pressure is an important and modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factor that remains under-detected and under-treated. Community-level interventions that address high blood pressure and other modifiable risk factors are a promising strategy to improve cardiovascular health in populations. The present study is a community cluster-randomised trial testing the effectiveness of CHAP (Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program) on the cardiovascular health of older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine mid-sized communities in Ontario, Canada were stratified by geographic location and size of the population aged >or=65 years and randomly allocated to receive CHAP or no intervention. In CHAP communities, residents aged >or=65 years were invited to attend cardiovascular risk assessment sessions held in pharmacies over 10 weeks in Fall, 2006. Sessions included blood pressure measurement and feedback to family physicians. Trained volunteers delivered the program with support from pharmacists, community nurses and local organisations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary outcome measure is the relative change in the mean annual rate of hospital admission for acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure and stroke (composite end-point) among residents aged >or=65 years in intervention and control communities, using routinely collected, population-based administrative health data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper highlights considerations in design, implementation and evaluation of a large-scale, community-wide cardiovascular health promotion initiative.
authors: Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Canada. janusz.kaczorowski@familymed.ubc.ca
authors: Janusz
authors: J
authors: Kaczorowski
authors: Larry W
authors: LW
authors: Chambers
authors: Tina
authors: T
authors: Karwalajtys
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Dolovich
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Farrell
authors: Beatrice
authors: B
authors: McDonough
authors: Rolf
authors: R
authors: Sebaldt
authors: Cheryl
authors: C
authors: Levitt
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Hogg
authors: Lehana
authors: L
authors: Thabane
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Tu
authors: Ron
authors: R
authors: Goeree
authors: J Michael
authors: JM
authors: Paterson
authors: Mamdouh
authors: M
authors: Shubair
authors: Tracy
authors: T
authors: Gierman
authors: Shannon
authors: S
authors: Sullivan
authors: Megan
authors: M
authors: Carter
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001364:Awareness; D002170:Canada; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002319:Cardiovascular System; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003154:Community Medicine; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D040241:Social Marketing