A randomized trial of mail vs. telephone invitation to a community-based cardiovascular health awareness program for older family practice patients [ISRCTN61739603]

Abstract Background: Locally recruited and trained volunteers are a vital component of the Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP), a community-based cardiovascular disease prevention program that has been implemented across different settings and targeting different populations. As part of expanding and adapting CHAP to new settings, we conducted a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial to implement CHAP targeting elderly residents of subsidized social housing buildings in Québec and Ontario. As there is some evidence that the culture of volunteering might be different for English-speakers than their French-speaking counterparts, our objective was to generate a profile of French-speaking CHAP volunteers and to compare it with English-speaking volunteers in Ontario who participated in an earlier community-based CHAP program and with volunteers in Canada as reported in the Statistics Canada's General Social Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered online or by telephone to volunteers who participated in at least one CHAP session held in subsidized social housing in Montérégie (Québec, Canada) between March 2018 and June 2019. Results: The response rate was 79% (30/38), majority were female (87%, 26/30), retired or semi-retired (83%; 25/30), almost two-thirds (63%, 19/30) had previous work experience in the healthcare field, and 40% (12/30) had more than 10 years of volunteering experience. These characteristics were similar both to those of general profile of volunteers in Canada and to English-speaking volunteers in Ontario who participated in an earlier pharmacy-based CHAP program. The top 5 reasons for volunteering among French-speaking CHAP volunteers were identical to those reported in CSGVP: making a contribution to the community; using one’s skills and experience; improving one’s sense of well-being or health; exploring one’s own strengths; and networking with or meeting people. The majority of French-speaking CHAP volunteers, like their English counterparts in Ontario, reported a high level of satisfaction with their participation in the program, enjoyed their interaction with participants, and gained new knowledge. Conclusions: French-speaking CHAP volunteers in Quebec share many similarities with English-speaking CHAP volunteers in Ontario and volunteers in Canada in terms of background, motivation, satisfaction and perceived benefits of volunteering.

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Motivation, satisfaction and perceived benefits of volunteering with the Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP): A survey of French-speaking volunteers in Quebec

10.21203/rs.3.rs-72185/v2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Janusz Kaczorowski ◽

Hanaa Moussa ◽

Marie-Thérèse Lussier ◽

Magali Girard

Keyword(s):

Social Housing ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

General Social Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Perceived Benefits ◽

Health Awareness ◽

Community Based ◽

Awareness Program ◽

French Speaking ◽

English Speaking

Abstract Background: Locally recruited and trained volunteers are a vital component of the Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP), a community-based cardiovascular disease prevention program that has been implemented across different settings and targeting different populations. As part of expanding and adapting CHAP to new settings, we conducted a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial to implement CHAP targeting French-speaking elderly residents of subsidized social housing buildings in Québec and Ontario. As there is some evidence that the culture of volunteering might be different for English-speakers than their French-speaking counterparts, our objective was to generate a profile of French-speaking CHAP volunteers and to compare it with English-speaking volunteers in Ontario who participated in an earlier community-based CHAP program and with volunteers in Canada as reported in the Statistics Canada's General Social Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered online or by telephone to French-speaking volunteers who participated in at least one CHAP session held in subsidized social housing in Montérégie (Québec, Canada) between March 2018 and June 2019. Results: The response rate was 79% (30/38), majority were female (87%, 26/30), retired or semi-retired (83%; 25/30), almost two-thirds (63%, 19/30) had previous work experience in the healthcare field, and 40% (12/30) had more than 10 years of volunteering experience. These characteristics were similar both to those of general profile of volunteers in Canada and to English-speaking volunteers in Ontario who participated in an earlier pharmacy-based CHAP program. The top 5 reasons for volunteering among French-speaking CHAP volunteers were identical to those reported in CSGVP: making a contribution to the community; using one’s skills and experience; improving one’s sense of well-being or health; exploring one’s own strengths; and networking with or meeting people. The majority of French-speaking CHAP volunteers, like their English counterparts in Ontario, reported a high level of satisfaction with their participation in the program, enjoyed their interaction with participants, and gained new knowledge. Conclusions: French-speaking CHAP volunteers in Quebec share many similarities with English-speaking CHAP volunteers in Ontario and volunteers in Canada in terms of background, motivation, satisfaction and perceived benefits of volunteering.

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Participation in Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP) by the Elderly Residents of Social Housing in Quebec: Social Network Analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-79393/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nadia Deville-Stoetzel ◽

Janusz Kaczorowski ◽

Gina Agarwal ◽

Marie-Thérèse Lussier ◽

Magali Girard

Keyword(s):

Social Network ◽

Social Network Analysis ◽

Network Analysis ◽

Social Housing ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Medium Size ◽

Attendance Rate ◽

Health Awareness ◽

Awareness Program

Abstract Background: The Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP) was originally developed and evaluated as a community-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention program in small to medium size communities in Ontario. Recently, CHAP has been adapted to target older individuals living in 14 social housing buildings in Ontario (7) and Quebec (7). The participation rates in the 10-months program varied across buildings in Quebec from 23.5% to 49.1%. Social network analysis (SNA) has been successfully used to assess and strengthen participation in health promotion programs. We applied SNA methods to investigate whether interpersonal relationships between tenants within buildings influence the participation in CHAP. Methods: We used sociometric questionnaires and complete network analysis, supplemented by qualitative interviews to examine relational dynamics of two buildings in Quebec with a low and a high attendance rates. All residents of the two buildings were eligible to be interviewed for the sociometric questionnaire. The participants for the qualitative part of the study were selected at random. Results: In total, 69 seniors participated in the study, including qualitative interviews. Among study participants selected for qualitative interviews, 10 attended almost all CHAP sessions, 10 attended once and 12 did not attend any. Quantitative results helped to identify well-known and appreciated local leaders. In building 1 which had a high attendance rate (34.3%), there was a main leader (In-degree or ‘named by others’ frequency 23.2%) who attended all sessions. In building 2 which had a low attendance rate (23.9%), none of the leaders had participated in CHAP sessions. Qualitative analysis showed that tenants who did not attend CHAP sessions (or other activities in the building) generally preferred to avoid conflicts, retaliation and gossip and did not want to get involved in clans and politics within the buildings. Conclusion: In order to increase attendance at CHAP sessions among residents of subsidized housings for seniors, we identified 4 potential strategies: increase participant confidentiality; deploy community peer-networks to enhance recruitment; pair attendants to ensure their future participation; intervene through an opinion leader or through bridging individuals.

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IMPROVING CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH AT THE POPULATION LEVEL: A 39 COMMUNITY CLUSTER-RANDOMISED TRIAL OF THE CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH AWARENESS PROGRAM (CHAP): PS.3.03

Journal of Hypertension ◽

10.1097/01.hjh.0000384008.86281.66 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 28 ◽

pp. e602

Author(s):

J Kaczorowski ◽

LW Chambers ◽

L Dolovich ◽

B Farrell ◽

B McDonough ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Randomised Trial ◽

Population Level ◽

Cluster Randomised Trial ◽

Health Awareness ◽

Cluster Randomised ◽

Awareness Program

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Design and rationale for a pragmatic cluster randomized trial of the Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP) for social housing residents in Ontario and Quebec, Canada

Trials ◽

10.1186/s13063-019-3806-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gina Agarwal ◽

Magali Girard ◽

Ricardo Angeles ◽

Melissa Pirrie ◽

Marie-Thérèse Lussier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Housing ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Primary Care Providers ◽

Care Providers ◽

Health Awareness ◽

Awareness Program ◽

Ed Visits ◽

Cluster Randomized

Abstract Background The Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP) uses volunteers to provide cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes screening in a community setting, referrals to primary care providers, and locally available programs targeting lifestyle modification. CHAP has been adapted to target older adults residing in social housing, a vulnerable segment of the population. Older adults living in social housing report poorer health status and have a higher burden of a multitude of chronic illnesses, such as CVD and diabetes. The study objective is to evaluate whether there is a reduction in unplanned CVD-related Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospital admissions among residents of social seniors’ housing buildings receiving the CHAP program for 1 year compared to residents in matched buildings not receiving the program. Methods/design This is a pragmatic, cluster randomized controlled trial in community-based social (subsidized) housing buildings in Ontario and Quebec. All residents of 14 matched pairs (intervention/control) of apartment buildings will be included. Buildings with 50–200 apartment units with the majority of residents aged 55+ and a unique postal code are included. All individuals residing within the buildings at the start of the intervention period are included (intention to treat, open cohort). The intervention instrument consists of CHAP screens for high blood pressure using automated blood pressure monitors and for diabetes using the Canadian Diabetes Risk (CANRISK) assessment tool. Monthly drop-in sessions for screening/monitoring are held within a common area of the building. Group health education sessions are also held monthly. Reports are sent to family doctors, and attendees are encouraged to visit their family doctor. The primary outcome measure is monthly CVD-related ED visits and hospitalizations over a 1-year period post randomization. Secondary outcomes are all ED visits, hospitalizations, quality of life, cost-effectiveness, and participant experience. Discussion It is anticipated that CVD-related ED visits and hospitalizations will decrease in the intervention buildings. Using the volunteer-led CHAP program, there is significant opportunity to improve the health of older adults in social housing. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov,NCT03549845. Registered on 15 May 2018. Updated on 21 May 2019.

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