Effectiveness of health checks conducted by nurses in primary care: final results of the OXCHECK study

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of health checks, performed by nurses in primary care, in reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease and cancer. Design: Randomised controlled trial. Setting: Five urban general practices in Bedfordshire. Subjects: 2205 men and women who were randomly allocated a first health check in 1989-90 and a re-examination in 1992-3 (the intervention group); 1916 men and women who were randomly allocated an initial health check in 1992-3 (the control group). All subjects were aged 35-64 at recruitment in 1989. Main outcome measures: Serum total cholesterol concentration, blood pressure, body mass index, and smoking prevalence (with biochemical validation of cessation); self reported dietary, exercise, and alcohol habits. Results: Mean serum total cholesterol was 3.1% lower in the intervention group than controls (difference 0.19 mmol/l (95% confidence interval 0.12 to 0.26); in women it was 4.5% lower (P<0.0001) and in men 1.6% (P<0.05), a significant difference between the sexes (P<0.01). Self reported saturated fat intake was also significantly lower in the intervention group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and body mass index were respectively 1.9%, 1.9%, and 1.4% lower in the intervention group (P<0.005 in all cases). There was a 3.9% (2.4 to 5.3) difference in the percentage of subjects with a cholesterol concentration >/=8 mmol/l, but no significant differences in the number with diastolic blood pressure >/=100 mm Hg or body mass index >/=30 kg/m2. There was no significant difference between the two groups in prevalence of smoking or excessive alcohol use. Annual rechecks were no more effective than a single recheck at three years, but health checks led to a significant increase in visits to the nurse according to patients' degree of cardiovascular risk. Conclusions: The benefits of health checks were sustained over three years. The main effects were to promote dietary change and reduce cholesterol concentrations; small differences in blood pressure may have been attributable to accommodation to measurement. The benefits of systematic health promotion in primary care are real, but must be weighed against the costs in relation to other priorities. Key messages Key messages There is little effect on smoking or alcohol use, and more targeted approaches to modifying these behaviours may be appropriate Systematic implementation of health checks might lead to a reduction in risk of myocardial infarction among those who attend of about 5-15%; men, who are at higher risk, show less change than women Health checks consume substantial resources, and their effect is attenuated by non-attendance The benefits of health promotion through primary care must be weighed against their costs and in relation to other priorities

The Association Between the Frequency of Annual Health Checks Participation and the Control of Cardiovascular Risk Factors

“…After 1 year, participants who received the health check and intervention demonstrated lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) [men: 131.6 vs. 139.0 mmHg; difference (SE), −7.3 (0.8); women: 123.2 vs. 129.6 mmHg; difference (SE), −6.2 (0.9)] and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) [men: 83.3 vs. 86.6 mmHg; difference (SE), −3.5 (0.4); women: 78.6 vs. 81.3 mmHg; difference (SE), −3.0 (0.4)] compared with those who received usual care ( 6 ). Similar results were observed in the Minnesota Heart Health Project and the OXCHECK study in which a single general health check could lead to lower blood pressure and cholesterol ( 7 , 8 ). Though several studies reported that general health checks can improve risk factor control, no study has investigated whether active and regular participation in annual health checks can further improve the control of cardiovascular risk factors compared with intermittent participation.…”

Multiple Risk Behavior Interventions: Meta-analyses of RCTs

“…Only four studies reported analyses of intervention fidelity or challenges to implementation. [23][24][25][26] Most studies that requested participant feedback found high levels of satisfaction both with provided materials (e.g., pedometers, exercise calendars, educational materials) and content of the intervention. [27][28][29][30][31][32][33] Though some studies did not find differences in satisfaction between participants in the intervention group compared with controls, [34][35][36] these interventions were compared with relatively active control groups.…”

An evidence-based approach to the use of telehealth in long-term health conditions: development of an intervention and evaluation through pragmatic randomised controlled trials in patients with depression or raised cardiovascular risk

“…81 With regards to participants at raised CVD risk, earlier research had demonstrated the effectiveness of telehealth interventions for specific risk factors such as hypertension 150 and smoking cessation, 385,386 but our systematic review of trials of telehealth interventions aimed at reducing multiple risk factors to reduce overall CVD risk found no evidence of effectiveness. 61 Earlier studies of primary prevention interventions to reduce CVD risk based on face-to-face nurse-led care had demonstrated small benefits 410,411 and modelling conducted in advance of the NHS Health Checks programme has suggested that they could be cost-effective in the long term. 34 This conclusion, of limited short-term benefits but with the potential for long-term gains in cost-effectiveness, is consistent with the findings of the Healthlines CVD risk trial.…”