Abstract
Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States, yet most individuals remain unaware of their risk. Current health fair models assess individual risk factors but miss the opportunity to assess, counsel, and follow-up with participants regarding global CVD risk. Objectives of this nurse telephone intervention were to (1) describe high-CVD-risk participants' healthcare-seeking behavior after the health fair and following a nurse telephone intervention and (2) describe CVD risk-reducing therapies provided to high-risk participants after the health fair and following a nurse telephone intervention.
Subjects and Methods: Five hundred twenty-nine of 4,489 health fair participants who completed an interactive Framingham risk assessment in 2006 were identified with high CVD risk. These participants received a nurse telephone intervention approximately 1 month after the health fair, during which the risk message was reinforced, principles of motivational interviewing were applied, and follow-up care was assessed. We evaluated the proportion of high-CVD-risk participants who obtained healthcare before and after intervention, and we compared the care received before and after intervention.
Results and Conclusion: Among 447 contacted high-CVD-risk participants, 59% (n = 262) saw a healthcare provider, and 86% of those discussed CVD risk at their healthcare visit. A greater proportion of participants were started on a cardioprotective drug (41% vs 20%; P < .01), and more participants discussed "heart health" (96% vs 75%; P < .001) after receiving the nurse telephone intervention. Our findings suggest that a nurse intervention may improve individuals' CVD risk awareness as well as activate providers to implement CVD risk reduction strategies.