Exploring equity in uptake of the NHS Health Check and a nested physical activity intervention trial.

S Attwood,K Morton,S Sutton

doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdv070

Abstract

BackgroundSocio-demographic factors characterizing disadvantage may influence uptake of preventative health interventions such as the NHS Health Check and research trials informing their content.MethodsA cross-sectional study examining socio-demographic characteristics of participants and non-participants to the NHS Health Check and a nested trial of very brief physical activity interventions within this context. Age, gender, Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and ethnicity were extracted from patient records of four General Practices (GP) in England.ResultsIn multivariate analyses controlling for GP surgery, the odds of participation in the Health Check were higher for older patients (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04–1.07) and lower from areas of greater deprivation (IMD Quintiles 4 versus 1, OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.18–0.76, 5 versus 1 OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.20–0.88). Older patients were more likely to participate in the physical activity trial (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02–1.06).ConclusionsYounger patients and those living in areas of greater deprivation may be at risk of non-participation in the NHS Health Check, while younger age also predicted non-participation in a nested research trial. The role that GP-surgery-specific factors play in influencing participation across different socio-demographic groups requires further exploration.

Highlights

Vascular diseases, including coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease, affect more than four million people in England and are responsible for one in every three deaths and one in five hospital admissions annually.[1]
We aimed to explore the sociodemographic characteristics of participants and non-participants to the Health Check and a nested research trial of very brief interventions for physical activity
373 patients (27% of n 1⁄4 1380) were classified as Health Check participants, and 194 (14.1%) patients were classified as physical activity trial participants

Summary

Introduction

Vascular diseases, including coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease, affect more than four million people in England and are responsible for one in every three deaths and one in five hospital admissions annually.[1]. An example of one such intervention is England’s National Health Service (NHS) Health Checks programme.[9] This programme invites eligible patients aged 40 –74 years to attend a vascular disease risk assessment, usually based in primary care. This assessment incorporates brief advice encouraging physical activity and dietary change in patients considered to be at increased risk. Methods A cross-sectional study examining socio-demographic characteristics of participants and non-participants to the NHS Health Check and a nested trial of very brief physical activity interventions within this context. Gender, Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and ethnicity were extracted from patient records of four General Practices (GP) in England

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