REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
EVALUATION OF IRISH HEART FOUNDATION?S MOBILE HEALTH UNIT SERVICES
BACKGROUND
High blood pressure is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD)
and a major cause of stroke and heart attack (World Health
Organisation, **Apply on the website**).? In Ireland, cardiovascular
disease is one of the leading causes of death (Central Statistics
Office, **Apply on the website**). An Irish study among people over
**Apply on the website** years of age found that **Apply on the
website**% of the study population had high blood pressure, with
**Apply on the website**% of the study population being unaware of
this (Murphy et al., **Apply on the website**). However, eighty
percent of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable through
positive lifestyle behaviour change (World Health Organisation,
**Apply on the website**).
The Mobile Health Unit offers free opportunistic community-based,
nurse-led blood pressure checks to adults aged **Apply on the
website** years and older. Each year, the Mobile Health Unit provides
up to **Apply on the website**,**Apply on the website** free blood
pressure checks to communities nationwide. Our particular focus is on
underserved and underprivileged groups and communities. Some of these
groups include Men?s Sheds, Traveller groups, Family Resource
Centres and local communities. Our flagship programme, ?Farmers Have
Hearts Cardiovascular Health Programme?, provides **Apply on the
website** farmers with health checks each year. The overall aim of the
health check programme is to identify individuals with high blood
pressure who are unaware of this and to raise their awareness in
relation to the risks of high blood pressure and cardiovascular
disease. Our expert nurses provide lifestyle advice and use
motivational interviewing techniques to facilitate brief behaviour
change interventions to promote cardiovascular health. Clients are
then advised to see their GP if their blood pressure is raised to
levels which present a cardiovascular disease risk, according to
defined, evidence-based thresholds.
AIM
The overall aim of the evaluation is to examine the effectiveness of
the Mobile Health Unit? in relation to identifying high blood
pressure in people unaware and already aware of having high blood
pressure and to raise health awareness around? the risks for high
blood pressure. We also wish to build on a previous evaluation which
was completed in **Apply on the website** on behalf of the Irish Heart
Foundation by Carlow IT (Van Doorn and Richardson, **Apply on the
website**).
OBJECTIVES
Indicative research objectives to be refined with selected research
partner.
INTERVENTION OBJECTIVES
* Identify high blood pressure and provide **Apply on the website**
lifestyle advice to those who are made aware for the first time of
high blood pressure.
* Identify high blood pressure and provide **Apply on the website**
lifestyle advice to those who are already aware of having high blood
pressure.
* Insight into compliance with prescribed medication for high blood
pressure among those with known high blood
pressure.???????????
* Raise health awareness about high blood pressure and risk factors
for cardiovascular disease.
* Identify follow up referrals to GP services after advice to do so
during the blood pressure check.
* Facilitate positive health behaviour changes.
EVALUATION OUTCOME INDICATORS
* Proportion of participants detected to have high blood pressure
that were unaware of this and who were advised to see their GP.
* Proportion of participants with high blood pressure, who are
already aware of this, and who were advised to see their GP.
* Proportion of participants known to have high blood pressure who
report to be compliant/non-compliant with their prescribed medication.
* Levels of awareness/knowledge of risk factors for cardiovascular
disease and understanding of what high blood pressure is and the
influencing factors. E.g., lifestyle, health behaviours, medications.
* Proportion of participants who report follow-up with their GP
after being advised to do so.
* Levels of newly implemented positive health behaviour or increased
frequency in positive healthy behaviours since baseline health check.
SCOPE
The evaluation of the MHU blood pressure checks will consist of two
phases;
* collection of baseline information which includes the blood
pressure check readings taken by the nurse and a face-to-face survey;
by the principal researcher
* a telephone follow-up survey at Week 6 conducted by the principal
researcher
Informed consent will be sought before the BP check. Baseline
information will be gathered after the BP check and will focus on
socio-demographics (age, sex, nationality, marital status) and health
information (registered at a GP, medical card holder, awareness of
existing high BP - if so medication y/n; adherence to medication y/n;
last time attended a GP, smoking and habits around alcohol, health
rating).
At the Week 6 phone questionnaire, the follow-up reported use of GP
services, outcome of GP visit (medication, further treatment, in case
of known elevated BP adjustment of treatment), knowledge on normal BP
and factors influencing BP (i.e. lifestyle elements, medication),
experience with the MHU BP check and future use of health checks will
be explored.
The proposed evaluation may use a combination of research methods such
as qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis tools
based on the researcher?s expertise and guidance in this field. A
representative sample size will be chosen to reflect the total study
population from the **Apply on the website**,**Apply on the website**
yearly health checks provided.
DELIVERABLES
* Collection and analysis of baseline and follow up research data
* Summary of baseline data collection
* PowerPoint presentation summary of study findings
* Submission of draft study findings as an executive summary report
and a full repor
We need : English (Good)
Type: Permanent
Payment:
Category: Others
