Adherence
Passive information and encouragement delivered via mail or email does not provide additional clinical benefits for cardiovascular risk factors (weight, BMI, waist circumference, smoking) compared to usual care alone.
Sending patients regular emails or letters with health tips and encouragement is not enough to change lifestyle habits like smoking or weight. While blood pressure may improve due to standard care or the Hawthorne effect, passive digital/mail interventions do not add value. To change behavior, patients need active, sophisticated support systems, not just information.
Information on cardiovascular risk factors and encouragement by means of letters or email did not provide additional benefits.
Why this rating
Randomized controlled trial, but small sample size (n=55) and short duration (6 months) limit generalizability.
Source
Effectiveness of a quality improvement intervention targeting cardiovascular risk factors: are patients responsive to information and encouragement by mail or post?
Dirk Devroey et al. · Vascular Health and Risk Management · 2013
DOI 10.2147/vhrm.s39919
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