Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP): a community cluster-randomised trial among elderly Canadians.
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.
Kaczorowski
Janusz
J
Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Canada. janusz.kaczorowski@familymed.ubc.ca
Chambers
Larry W
LW
Karwalajtys
Tina
T
Dolovich
Lisa
L
Farrell
Barbara
B
McDonough
Beatrice
B
Sebaldt
Rolf
R
Levitt
Cheryl
C
Hogg
William
W
Thabane
Lehana
L
Tu
Karen
K
Goeree
Ron
R
Paterson
J Michael
JM
Shubair
Mamdouh
M
Gierman
Tracy
T
Sullivan
Shannon
S
Carter
Megan
M
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