title: Community mobilization, participation, and blood pressure status in a Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program in Ontario.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the feasibility of a community-wide approach integrated with primary care (Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program [CHAP]) to promote monitoring of blood pressure (BP) and awareness of cardiovascular disease risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demonstration project.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two midsized Ontario communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-dwelling seniors.
  
  
  METHODS
  CHAP sessions were offered in pharmacies and promoted to seniors using advertising and personalized letters from physicians. Trained volunteers measured BP, completed risk profiles, and provided risk-specific education materials.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the distribution of risk factors among participants and predictors of multiple visits and elevated BP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Opinion leaders aided recruitment of family physicians (n  =  56/63) and pharmacists (n  =  18/19). Over 90 volunteers were recruited. Invitations were mailed to 4394 seniors. Over 10 weeks, there were 4165 assessments of 2350 unique participants (approximately 30% of senior residents). 37.5% of attendees had untreated (16%; 360/2247) or uncontrolled (21.5%; 482/2247) high BP. Participants who received a letter (odds ratio [OR] 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1-3.0), had an initial elevated BP (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0-1.5), or reported current antihypertensive medication (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.6) were more likely to attend multiple sessions (p ≤ .05 for all). Older age (≥ 70 years; OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.8), BMI ≥ 30 (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.4-2.2), current antihypertensive medication (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-1.9), and diabetes (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.9-3.2) predicted elevated BP (p < .001 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The program yielded learning about community mobilization and identified a substantial number of seniors with undiagnosed/uncontrolled high BP.
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Grimsby, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Tina
authors: T
authors: Karwalajtys
authors: Janusz
authors: J
authors: Kaczorowski
authors: Larry W
authors: LW
authors: Chambers
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Hall
authors: Beatrice
authors: B
authors: McDonough
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Dolovich
authors: Rolf
authors: R
authors: Sebaldt
authors: Lynne
authors: L
authors: Lohfeld
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Hutchison
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019058:Community Networks; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors