Non-Physician Health Worker Support for Metabolic Syndrome
(SIP Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial aims to assist individuals with metabolic syndrome, a condition involving high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and unhealthy cholesterol levels, by providing support from trained non-physician health workers. These health workers will guide participants in adopting healthy lifestyle habits and maintaining contact with their family doctors. The trial includes online and in-person visits over 12 months to enhance participants’ health. It suits those who have been informed of their cardiovascular risk and struggle with managing high blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar levels. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity for personalized support and potential improvement in health management.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the study team or your doctor.
What prior data suggests that this protocol is safe?
Research has shown that health workers who aren't doctors, such as nurses and pharmacists, can safely help people manage their health. These workers assist individuals in making healthier lifestyle choices. Studies have found that these programs are well-received. Participants often experience health improvements, such as weight loss and better management of diabetes and heart disease risks. The studies have reported no major safety issues, indicating that this support is safe for participants.12345
Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores a new approach to managing metabolic syndrome by utilizing non-physician health workers (NPHWs). Unlike standard treatments that primarily rely on direct physician visits, this method employs trained allied health professionals, like pharmacists and nurses, to support patients in adhering to lifestyle changes and coordinating care. This approach could potentially make healthcare more accessible and personalized, enhancing patient engagement and adherence to treatment plans. By involving NPHWs, the trial aims to bridge gaps in care and provide continuous support, which could lead to better health outcomes for patients with metabolic syndrome.
What evidence suggests that Non-Physician Health Worker support is effective for metabolic syndrome?
Research has shown that involving trained health workers who are not doctors can help manage high blood pressure and diabetes, especially in low-income areas. In this trial, participants in the implementation group will receive support from non-physician health workers (NPHWs) to assist in reducing obesity and overweight issues by encouraging healthier lifestyle choices. This support can lead to better management of heart and metabolic conditions. Evidence suggests that extra help from trained health professionals can significantly improve health.678910
Who Is on the Research Team?
Lita Cameron, MD, MSc
Principal Investigator
McMaster University
Sonia Anand, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator
McMaster University
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for individuals already part of the SCORE! Cohort study with issues like high blood sugar, bad cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure. They should be at risk for heart disease but don't need to have a medical background. The key is they haven't been excluded from the main SCORE! study.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants receive guidance from Non-Physician Health Workers (NPHW) to improve cardiovascular health through lifestyle changes and medical referrals
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in cardiovascular risk factors and adherence to recommendations
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Non-Physician Health Worker
Trial Overview
The trial tests if health workers without a medical degree can help improve participants' health over 12 months. These workers are trained in health sciences and work under a doctor's supervision, using online and on-site visits to manage conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol.
How Is the Trial Designed?
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Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
The study is based on the HOPE-4 protocol, where trained individuals will support participants in adhering to healthy lifestyle recommendations and support their access to a family physician to follow up on care recommendations. The NPHWs will be allied health professionals (e.g., pharmacists, internationally trained physicians, physiotherapists, nurses). The team will train them on study goals, responsibilities, data management, and follow-up, based on the HOPE-4 training manual. Training will be given once at the beginning of their role and then once annually. The NPHW will support the participant, if needed, in contacting the family doctor and assisting to arrange a follow-up study. If required, the family doctor can contact the NPHW. If further discussion is required or there are questions regarding the study that require further discussion, the NPHW will contact the study physician to address these issues.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Sonia Anand
Lead Sponsor
McMaster University
Collaborator
Published Research Related to This Trial
Citations
Effectiveness of a Lifestyle Intervention on Metabolic ...
A lifestyle intervention based on general recommendations was effective in reducing multiple metabolic/inflammatory abnormalities.
Task sharing with non-physician health-care workers for ...
Our meta-analysis shows that task-sharing interventions are effective in reducing average blood pressure in low-income and lower-middle income ...
Improving Health Outcomes Through Nurse Practitioner– ...
The current literature continues to support the use of lifestyle medicine in the treatment of obesity and cardiometabolic-related diseases.
Task-sharing interventions for improving control of diabetes ...
Task sharing interventions with non-physician healthcare workers show moderate effectiveness in diabetes management in LMIC settings.
The effect of results-based motivating system on metabolic risk ...
Involving non-physician health workers and having action plans based on the health needs of the covered population can decrease obesity and overweight in the ...
and Middle‐Income Countries: A Realist Review
We included all studies published until 12 January 2023, reporting the effects of workplace lifestyle education interventions on metabolic syndrome. Using a ...
Effectiveness of Workplace-Based Diet and Lifestyle ...
We carried out a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of articles measuring the association between workplace dietary interventions and MetS ...
Improving Employee Health: Evaluation of a Worksite ...
Most importantly, regardless of when they started the intervention, both groups demonstrated significant weight loss and improvements in diabetes and CVD risk ...
Mixed methods formative research and pilot testing of a ...
SmartCare to include an NCD module and automatic decision-support prompts for non-physician health workers. We envision that this may ...
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archpublichealth.biomedcentral.com
archpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13690-023-01047-wMotivating non-physician health workers to reduce the ...
This study evaluated the effectiveness of interventions that aimed at increasing non-physician community health workers' motivation in reducing ...
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