The Effects of Preventive Counseling Followed by Remote Support Via Telephone on the Motivation to Change Lifestyle in Patients With High and Very High Cardiovascular Risk

Aim To evaluate effectiveness of preventive telephone counseling with a nutritional component and distance support for three months with respect of motivation for lifestyle modification in patients with high and very high cardiovascular risk (CVR).
Material and methods This prospective, controlled, randomized clinical study in two parallel groups included patients with high and very high CVR (5–9 % and ≥10 % according to the SCORE scale) who had at least two criteria of metabolic syndrome. Patients were randomized to the main and control groups in a 1:1 ratio with age and gender stratification. The main group received comprehensive preventive counseling with a nutritional component and distant support via telephone once in two weeks for three months (total 6 consultations). Patients of the control group received standard counseling by a health center physician. Patients’ motivation for lifestyle changes was evaluated with a questionnaire at baseline and at 6 and 12 months.
Results The study included a total of 100 patients (mean age, 59.85±4.47 years, 80 % females). At baseline, 81 % of patients had high and 19% of patients had very high CVR. Patients of the study groups did not differ in major demographic and clinical characteristics. At 6 month of follow-up, the main group showed a significantly more pronounced positive changes in motivation and healthier lifestyle (50 % in the main group vs. 12% in the control group, р<0.01). At 12 months of follow-up, the number of such patients somewhat decreased to 38%. In this process, a vast majority of patients in the control group (82 %) continued theoretically considering the expediency of lifestyle modification.
Conclusions Preventive counseling with nutritional component and further distance support via telephone for three months for patients with high and very high CVR provided increased motivation for healthier lifestyle and positive behavioral changes.

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