P2514Medical and psychological counseling of patients with risk factors for cardiovascular disease with the use of remote technologies

Abstract

Background: Remote technologies give an opportunity for regular prolonged pre- ventive counseling. The use of remote technologies probably can increase the likelihood of successful achievement of goals for the control of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (RF CVD). Purpose: The aim of the study was a comparative estimation of efficiency of medical and psychological correction of RF CVD with application of remote technologies. Methods: The study lasted 12 months and included 140 patients with average age 53±17 years, 76 men (54%) and 64 women (46%), who were assigned to the group of medical and psychological counseling with the use of remote technologies (experimental, n=70) or to the matched group of standard care (control, n=70). There were no difference in gender composition, age, severity of studied RF CVD, concomitant diagnoses between groups. Inclusion criteria: 1) age from 18 to 80 years, 2) presence of one or more RF CVD, 3) the patient's ability to use remote technologies. Exclusion criteria: 1) having a mental illness, 2) presence of severe disease or unstable clinical status. Patients of the experimental group received primary face-to-face preventive counseling with setting of individual goals and afterwards - regular remote consultations by telephone at least once a month, accompanied by the control of RF CVD indicators, medical and psychological advice, including methods of motivational interviewing and other techniques; got information materials about prevention of RF CVD via internet messengers; received regular sms-reminders about correction of RF CVD. In 12 months, indicators of severity of RF CVD were compared in two groups. Results: Analysis showed that after 12 months of medical and psychological counseling using remote technologies patients in experimental group had significantly better RF CVD profile: achievement of target blood pressure (p=0,002), level of physical activity 150 min per week or more (p=0,003), consumption of fruits and vegetables 400 g per day or more (p=0,006), lower body mass index (p=0,0003), smaller waist circumference (p=0,002), lower cholesterol level (p=0,004), fewer number of cigarettes smoked per day for smoking patients (p=0,03), comparing with patients in control group. There were no significant differences in blood glucose level and consumption of alcoholic beverages. Thus extensive medical and psychological counseling using remote technologies may be effective for correction of various RF CVD. Conclusions: Medical and psychological counseling of patients with RF CVD with the use of remote technologies (phone calls, sms, internet messengers) may be an effective tool for long term control of various RF CVD. We may assume that it can complement standard care and help patients to reach target goals related to RF CVD.