Coaching by non-drug prescribing health professionals reduced total cholesterol concentrations in coronary heart disease
Q In patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), does a 6 month programme of coaching by non-drug prescribing nurses and dietitians reduce total cholesterol (TC) concentrations?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial (Coaching patients On Achieving Cardiovascular Health [COACH]).
Allocation:
concealed.
Blinding:
blinded (outcome assessors).
Follow up period:
6 months.
Setting:
cardiology departments of 6 university teaching hospitals in Melbourne, Australia.
Patients:
792 patients (mean age 59 y, 77% men) who were admitted to hospital for coronary artery bypass graft surgery; percutaneous coronary intervention; acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina and discharged on medical therapy; or coronary angiography with planned elective revascularisation. Exclusion criteria: inaccessibility by telephone, inability to speak or read English or travel to hospital for follow up visits, no fasting blood sample taken …
