Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a nurse-led cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention program in an Australian rural health care setting.
Methods: Seventy nine men aged 30-55 years without pre-existing CVD were invited to participate in a series of four, two-hour group education sessions at weekly intervals. Each group session was facilitated by community health nurses and covered the following areas: CVD aetiology, nutrition, physical activity and stress management. Clinical testing was performed at four points throughout the study: prior to intervention, and at three, six and twelve months after commencement of intervention.
Results: At three months, statistically significant improvements were found in systolic blood pressure, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat percentage, as well as total and LDL cholesterol. At 12 months, the improvements were maintained for both waist and hip circumference. Significant improvements were also found in knowledge of CVD risk factors. In relation to the action planning component, the majority of men reported a change in one or more lifestyle behaviours at 12 months.
Conclusion: CVD and its treatment costs are an increasing concern in rural Australia. Prevention is therefore desirable. CVD trials using lifestyle interventions reveal that lifestyle change can have substantial effects on CVD risk factors. This study provides evidence that a nurse-led program is feasible in rural health care settings where access to allied health staff is limited or unavailable. To sustain the benefits achieved in the first three months of the program, additional group sessions or telephone support may be necessary.