We examined the effectiveness of a structured collaboration in general practice between a practice nurse, a peer health educator, the general practitioner (GP) and a GP assistant in providing intensified preventive care for patients at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Design
A randomized controlled trial in three healthcare centres (18 GPs) in deprived neighbourhoods of two major Dutch cities.
Methods
Two hundred seventy-five high-risk patients (30-70 years) from various ethnic groups were randomized to intervention (n = 137) or usual care group (n = 138). We determined group differences in outcomes [10-year absolute risk (Framingham risk equation), blood pressure, lipids and body mass index] at 12-month follow-up.
Results
The 10-year absolute risk was reduced by 1.76% (standard error: 0.81) in intervention and by 2.27% (standard error: 0.69) in usual care group; the difference in mean change was 0.88% [95% confidence interval: −1.16 to 2.93]. In both groups significant reductions were observed in the following individual risk factors: total cholesterol, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, with no relevance between group differences.
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