RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF HEALTH PROMOTION IN GENERAL-PRACTICE FOR PATIENTS AT HIGH CARDIOVASCULAR RISK

Objective-To assess the value of health education for patients with an gina in reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease and lessening the effect of angina on everyday activities. Design-Randomised contro lled trial of personal health education given every four months. Setti ng-18 general practices in the greater Belfast area. Subjects-688 pati ents aged less than 75 years and known to have had angina for at least six months; 342 randomised to receive education and 346 to no educati on. Main outcome measures-Restriction of everyday activities, dietary habit, smoking habit, frequency of physical exercise; blood pressure, body mass index, and serum total cholesterol concentration at entry to trial and after two years. Results-317 in the intervention group and 300 in the control group completed the trial. At the two year review m ore of the intervention group (140, 44%) reported taking daily physica l exercise than the control group (70, 24%). The intervention group al so reported eating a healthier diet than the control group and less re striction by angina in any everyday activity. No significant differenc es were found between the groups in smoking habit, systolic or diastol ic blood pressure, cholesterol concentration, or body mass index. Conc lusion-Despite having no significant effect on objective cardiovascula r risk factors, personal health education of patients with angina seem s to increase exercise and improve dietary habits and is effective in lessening the restriction of everyday activities.