Patient experiences of telephone outreach to enhance uptake of NHS Health Checks in more deprived communities and minority ethnic groups: A qualitative interview study

Abstract Background The NHS Health Checks preventative programme aims to reduce cardiovascular morbidity across England. To improve equity in uptake, telephone outreach was developed in Bristol, involving community workers telephoning patients amongst communities potentially at higher risk of cardio...

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Main Authors: Emer Brangan, Tracey J. Stone, Amanda Chappell, Vivienne Harrison, Jeremy Horwood
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-06-01
Series:Health Expectations
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.12856
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author Emer Brangan
Tracey J. Stone
Amanda Chappell
Vivienne Harrison
Jeremy Horwood
author_facet Emer Brangan
Tracey J. Stone
Amanda Chappell
Vivienne Harrison
Jeremy Horwood
author_sort Emer Brangan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The NHS Health Checks preventative programme aims to reduce cardiovascular morbidity across England. To improve equity in uptake, telephone outreach was developed in Bristol, involving community workers telephoning patients amongst communities potentially at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and/or less likely to take up a written invitation, to engage them with NHS Health Checks. Where possible, caller cultural background/main language is matched with that of the patient called. The call includes an invitation to book an NHS Health Check appointment, lifestyle questions from the Health Check, and signposting to lifestyle services. Objective To explore the experiences of patients who received an outreach call. Design/Setting/Participants Thematic analysis of semi‐structured interviews with 24 patients (15 female), from seven primary care practices, who had received an outreach call. Results The call increased participants’ understanding of NHS Health Checks and overcame anticipated difficulties with making an appointment. Half reported that they would not have booked if only invited by letter. The cultural identity/language skills of the caller were important in facilitating the interaction for some who might otherwise encounter language or cultural barriers. The inclusion of lifestyle questions and signposting prompted a minority to make lifestyle changes. Conclusions Participants valued easily generalizable aspects of the intervention—a telephone invitation with ability to book during the call—and reported that it prompted acceptance of an NHS Health Check. A caller who shared their main language/cultural background was important for a minority of participants, and improved targeting of this would be beneficial.
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spelling doaj.art-20e8236df55f44f0912fd63cb78ba9bf2022-12-21T17:57:17ZengWileyHealth Expectations1369-65131369-76252019-06-0122336437210.1111/hex.12856Patient experiences of telephone outreach to enhance uptake of NHS Health Checks in more deprived communities and minority ethnic groups: A qualitative interview studyEmer Brangan0Tracey J. Stone1Amanda Chappell2Vivienne Harrison3Jeremy Horwood4The National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care West (NIHR CLAHRC West) at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust Bristol UKThe National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care West (NIHR CLAHRC West) at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust Bristol UKPublic Health Bristol City Council Bristol UKPublic Health Bristol City Council Bristol UKThe National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care West (NIHR CLAHRC West) at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust Bristol UKAbstract Background The NHS Health Checks preventative programme aims to reduce cardiovascular morbidity across England. To improve equity in uptake, telephone outreach was developed in Bristol, involving community workers telephoning patients amongst communities potentially at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and/or less likely to take up a written invitation, to engage them with NHS Health Checks. Where possible, caller cultural background/main language is matched with that of the patient called. The call includes an invitation to book an NHS Health Check appointment, lifestyle questions from the Health Check, and signposting to lifestyle services. Objective To explore the experiences of patients who received an outreach call. Design/Setting/Participants Thematic analysis of semi‐structured interviews with 24 patients (15 female), from seven primary care practices, who had received an outreach call. Results The call increased participants’ understanding of NHS Health Checks and overcame anticipated difficulties with making an appointment. Half reported that they would not have booked if only invited by letter. The cultural identity/language skills of the caller were important in facilitating the interaction for some who might otherwise encounter language or cultural barriers. The inclusion of lifestyle questions and signposting prompted a minority to make lifestyle changes. Conclusions Participants valued easily generalizable aspects of the intervention—a telephone invitation with ability to book during the call—and reported that it prompted acceptance of an NHS Health Check. A caller who shared their main language/cultural background was important for a minority of participants, and improved targeting of this would be beneficial.https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.12856cardiovascular diseasesethnicityinequalitiesNHS Health Checksoutreachqualitative research
spellingShingle Emer Brangan
Tracey J. Stone
Amanda Chappell
Vivienne Harrison
Jeremy Horwood
Patient experiences of telephone outreach to enhance uptake of NHS Health Checks in more deprived communities and minority ethnic groups: A qualitative interview study
Health Expectations
cardiovascular diseases
ethnicity
inequalities
NHS Health Checks
outreach
qualitative research
title Patient experiences of telephone outreach to enhance uptake of NHS Health Checks in more deprived communities and minority ethnic groups: A qualitative interview study
title_full Patient experiences of telephone outreach to enhance uptake of NHS Health Checks in more deprived communities and minority ethnic groups: A qualitative interview study
title_fullStr Patient experiences of telephone outreach to enhance uptake of NHS Health Checks in more deprived communities and minority ethnic groups: A qualitative interview study
title_full_unstemmed Patient experiences of telephone outreach to enhance uptake of NHS Health Checks in more deprived communities and minority ethnic groups: A qualitative interview study
title_short Patient experiences of telephone outreach to enhance uptake of NHS Health Checks in more deprived communities and minority ethnic groups: A qualitative interview study
title_sort patient experiences of telephone outreach to enhance uptake of nhs health checks in more deprived communities and minority ethnic groups a qualitative interview study
topic cardiovascular diseases
ethnicity
inequalities
NHS Health Checks
outreach
qualitative research
url https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.12856
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