title: The effectiveness of a comprehensive reminder system in the secondary prevention of hypertensive ischaemic stroke: randomized controlled trial protocol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether the Comprehensive Reminder System based on the Health Belief Model improves health belief, health behaviours, medication adherence and blood pressure control as a means of decreasing the rate of stroke recurrence among hypertensive ischaemic stroke.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Hypertensive patients having experienced recent ischaemic strokes are at high risk for stroke recurrence. Several trials attempted to improve secondary stroke prevention via patient education, however, patient outcomes remained poor. Long-term follow-up studies regarding secondary stroke prevention are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multi-centre, 12-month, assessor-blinded, parallel-group, randomized controlled longitudinal trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hypertensive patients having experienced an ischaemic stroke are the target population. The intervention consists of health belief education, a calendar handbook, a weekly automated short-message service and four telephone follow-up interviews. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at 3, 6 and 12 months following discharge. The primary outcome is blood pressure control. The secondary outcomes include health belief, health behaviours and medication adherence. The clinical endpoint is the rate of stroke recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although many efforts to improve secondary stroke prevention have been undertaken, research indicates that improvements remain possible and warranted. This research protocol based on the Health Belief Model will improve our understanding of stroke education and transitional care needed in China and with the world-wide target population.
authors: School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Li-Hong
authors: LH
authors: Wan
authors: School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Li-Ming
authors: LM
authors: You
authors: School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Shao-Xian
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0309-0665
authors: SX
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Neurology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Xiao-Pei
authors: XP
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Neurology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Miao-Miao
authors: MM
authors: Mo
authors: Department of Neurology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Ying-Mei
authors: YM
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Cui-Ling
authors: CL
authors: Ou
authors: Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: You-Ai
authors: YA
authors: Ao
authors: Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Xiao-Ni
authors: XN
authors: Xiong
authors: Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Yu-Wei
authors: YW
authors: Lu
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D017010:Reminder Systems; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: 
  RCT
  ; follow-up study; health belief model; hypertension; nursing; protocol; reminder system; secondary prevention; short-message service; stroke